Two men allegedly caught with marijuana freed from custody

By JACINTA COHLEE
TWO men charged with being in possession of marijuana were freed on Wednesday by the Lae Committal Court due to their police file not being ready.
Obert Jimmy, 24, from Atzera in Markham, Morobe, and Joshua Atiwa, 20, from Butibam in Lae, Morobe, had their court cases struck out as police files had not been completed after a month.
“I hope this will be a lesson to you two and don’t ever show your faces here again because this will be the last time you both see mercy from the court,” Magistrate Pious Tapil told Jimmy and Atiwa.
Tapil ordered both men be released from custody due to the non-appearance of state witnesses.
Meanwhile, the other accused, Berry Koma, 35, from Gunagi in Sinasina, Chimbu, first appeared before court on April 18 and was convicted and sentenced to 20 months imprisonment in Buimo prison.
Police allege that on April 16, the three accused were sighted next to St Mary’s Cathedral in Top town, Lae behaving suspiciously and were caught.