Suspects in Tan attempted murder appear in court

TWO Chinese men involved in the alleged attempted murder of businessman Jason Tan appeared before the Waigani Committal Court yesterday.
Changjiang Gao, 36, from  Dong Bei province, and Xue Zhufu, 38, from the Fujian province of China, appeared before magistrate Fred Tomo.
It was alleged that on Jan 2, the men attempted to kill Mr Tan as he was returning from work to his home on Paga Hill in Down Town Port Moresby.
Using an interpreter, Mr Tomo read the charges which included one count each for attempted murder contravening section 304(a) of the Criminal Code Act, chapter 262.
Mr Tomo informed both men that the court, at this stage, had no “power to grant bail for cases of this nature” and advised them to lodge a bail application in the National Court once the case had been committed.
Both men can not speak English nor Tok Pisin and were depending on the aid of the interpreter, naturalised PNG citizen Robin Waiwai, who speaks fluent Mandarin.
Defence counsel Michael Wilson will be interviewing both men using a separate interpreter as Mr Wilson said it was appropriate for the police prosecution and the defence to use different interpreters.
The case has been adjourned to Jan 29 to give time to both the police and defense counsel to gather and deliberate on information before the court reconvenes.
Meanwhile, the passports of both men are being withheld by Transnational Crime Division.