Suspended Liliura to face trial on sex-related charges

SUSPENDED Commerce and Trade secretary Andrew Liliura will face trial in the Waigani National Court to answer sex-related charges.
Magistrate Cosmas Bidar had ruled on Jan 22 that there was enough evidence to commit him to trial, however, the matter returned yesterday for his section 96 statement. He said the number of allegations against him were sexual in nature and after going through a lengthy submission, the court found that there was enough evidence to send him to trial.
“These are matured, married women and there is no reason to doubt their statements,” Bidar said.
“The evidence as it is, is sufficient to put the defendant to trial at the National Court.”
The court made orders that he
was committed to stand trial, appear for listing on Feb 24 and remain on bail until his cases were finalised.
Liliura, 50, from Bubusi village in Talasea, West New Britain, is facing four counts of sexual touching, three counts of sex and two counts of compel to touch.
He was the head of department at the time when he was accused of sexually harassing female staff of the department on several occasions.