Tapil orders mother arrested after son failed to attend court

A MAGISTRATE has ordered for the arrest of a mother, whose son is charged with the rape of a 13-year-old girl, for perverting the course of justice and abating.
Magistrate Pious Tapil at the committal court in Lae made the order after Lambert Gilbert, 20, from Madang’s Manam Island did not appear in court consecutively after the court granted his bail on Dec 15, 2023.
The court was informed that Gilbert was sent home by her mother.
Gilbert is out on a K1,000 court bail with the surety fee of K400 from two guarantors.
The court in an earlier mention had revoked Gilbert’s bail after finding he had not been in court on the mentioned dates.
The bail and surety fee were forfeited and a warrant of arrest was issued.
Following up on the progress of the record of interview (ROI), the police file and the warrant of arrest issued, the court found out that the arresting officer failed to appear in court to explain the progress of those orders issued earlier.
The court also found that Gilbert’s guarantors had also gone their own way and failed the court by not living up to its order to have Gilbert in court on every mention dates.
Magistrate Tapil then issued an order that the guarantors be arrested and brought before the court to explain why Gilbert was not attending to all his court dates.
Gilbert is alleged to have committed the crime last December.
Gilbert is expected to appear for mention on April 5 with this mother, the two guarantors and the arresting officer to explain the progress of the ROI, police file and the warrant of arrest that was issued.