Teen accused of damaging network cabels

By MALIKAI BALANDU
A TEENAGER out on a K2,500 bail and charged with willfully and unlawfully damaging property worth K280,000 had his case adjourned to allow for police to complete the court file.
The adjournment of the case to June 3 was to also allow police to investigate and gather evidence to support the charge.
Nineteen-year-old Joshua Robert, 19, of Ponowi village in Ialibu-Pangia, Southern Highlands, is alleged to have damaged 400-metres of communication cables valued at K281,681.22 and the property of Telikom PNG Ltd.
Magistrate Pious Tapil said these type of offences were serious and police needed to prepare their case file before the final mention.
Police alleged that last Dec 24, between 11pm and 2am at Hillside Ave, at Voco Point in Lae, Robert and three others removed the cover of a manhole and cut and removed cables.
The court heard that guards at a nearby property heard them cutting the cables and alerted the police who arrived at the scene but Robert and his accomplices had already left.
Robert was identified and later arrested by investigators.