Soldiers mutiny case adjourned

 By LAZARUS BIRA 

THE Waigani National Court has adjourned the hearing of mutiny charges against 11 soldiers because investigations and their files have not been completed. 

Acting Defence Force Judge Allan David adjourned the case to Feb 16 after the state lawyer David Kuvi informed the court that the investigations and files were pending. 

Kuvi said the investigation team had obtained most of the statements from witnesses and the exhibit materials which the state would rely on as evidence against the defendants.

He said they had conducted record of interviews with all but four of the soliders. 

He said they would need more time to allow the investigations to be completed and the files be served.

The two Public Solicitor lawyers representing the defendants, Edward Sassingan and Wesley Dickson, said they were aware of the situation and it would be appropriate for the investigations to be completed and the files served first.

The soldiers allegedly committed the offences in December last year, when they failed to return to Port Moresby from Komo in Hela on time, as requested by their military administration.

They were charged with rebellion against their authority under Section 55 of the PNG Defence Force Act. They were detained at the Murray Barracks military police cell before they were released on National Court bails.