Villagers deny charges
The National, Tuesday 16th April 2013
By JUNIOR UKAHA
A GROUP of Wale-Babuaf villagers appeared before the Lae committal court last Friday accused of using threats and obstructing police from doing their work.
The 35 villagers including women turned up with lawyer Kaik Karu, of Daniels and Associates.
Police told the court that on March 18, at the Finjip campsite in Wampar, Huon district, Morobe, the group had weapons and threatened police.
They were blocking the road to stop the MMJV and police from entering the Finjip camp and portal site which sits on their traditional land. It follows a dispute with the miner on sub-contracts and other issues.
Prosecutor Vincent Suakai alleged that they also obstructed police from carrying out their work.
Their lawyer told magistrate Nasaling Bingtau that his clients denied the charges.
Bingtau adjourned the matter to May 6 to allow both parties to call witnesses.
In another case, a mother of six children who was accused of assaulting another woman while under the influence of alcohol, was ordered to reappear in court on May 8. She denied the charge.
Bingtau told the accused from Sipaia village in Lae that her bail was extended.
The court heard that on March 17 in Sipaia, the accused punched the complainant on the face and swore at her.