Suspect’s ‘long wait’ worries lawyer

A LAWYER representing a man, 27, charged with armed robbery has raised concern in court that the suspect had been in custody for too long due to the delay in prosecution.
Paul Paraka told the court that Nelson Kali, from Laigap’s Aipanda village, Enga, was one of the many suspects who had been kept in custody without any police files.
“The delay by the police to complete their investigations and serve the hand-up brief to the defendants is becoming a concern as many of them are remanded in custody for too long,” Paraka told the court.
“I will file an application pursuant to section 37 of the Constitution to strike out the case of prosecution for failing to provide evidence on the returnable date.”
Police prosecutor McKenzie Ken told the court that there was no instructions from the case officer.
Waigani Committal Court Magistrate Danny Wakikura adjourned the case to April 11 and remanded Kali.
“You still have the rights to file your bail application at the National Court as it is beyond the jurisdiction of this court to hear,” he said.
Police alleged that at 1am last April 26, Kali and six other men armed with a police gas gun, two pistols and three homemade guns had robbed Monira Investment Ltd and made off with K8,000 plus other valuables.
It was alleged that they robbed K2,000 from the till, broke into the manager’s room and forced him to open the money drawer.