Senior public servant accused of murder, applies for bail

A SENIOR public servant charged with wilful murder after a man was killed and his body dumped at 8-Mile back-road in Port Moresby last month, has applied for bail at the Waigani National Court.
He made submissions through his lawyer that further incarceration would result in him losing his job.
Justice Jim Wala Tamate reserved his decision until tomorrow. The man submitted that he had a standing in the community, was a family man and the breadwinner of his nine children who depended on him.
He also claimed innocence, submitted that he would not abscond bail and listed two guarantors to pay K500 each as surety.
The state submitted that the issue of innocence was a matter for trial proper since the matter was still in its committal proceeding, hence, it was not a proper ground for bail.
The state also submitted that the accused never disclosed how his children would be affected or their ages and that loss of employment was a natural consequence after being charged with an offence.
It was alleged that on Sep 5 between 3am and 3pm, the accused was seen with three others at 8-Mile settlement, Port Moresby, at an area where people played cards.
The man killed was also seen in the area drinking and playing cards with his friends.
His wife came and took him home at 3pm.
The next day, the man went down to the card place again where he joined the accused and drank beer.
He then got into the accused’s family vehicle and they drove to 9-Mile to buy more beer.
It was further alleged that the accused and five other men including the deceased went to 14-Mile where they drank before driving back, taking the 8-Mile back-road where they allegedly killed the man and dumped his body.