Woman accused of stealing K10,000 has case discharged, no file

A committal court in Waigani has struck out a case against a woman accused of stealing K10,000 in Port Moresby seven months ago after police failed to provide a hand-up brief yesterday.
Magistrate Albert Daniels discharged Danila James Yapipa, 33, from Laiagam in Enga, for want of police evidence.
It is one of about 20 cases struck out by the court in two days for the same reason.
“The decision today is police did not provide the hand-up brief and from your record, you were kept in custody for six months, one week and four days,” Daniels said.
“According to the arraignment conducted last time, I told you that if there is no police file there would be no case.
“This morning I would like to inform you that still there is no police file and I strike out your case and you are discharged from prosecution.”
Police alleged that on Sept 27, last year Yapipa went into the room of the complainant, her husband, and allegedly stole the money, went away and hid it at her parents’ house.
After the husband discovered the money was missing, he suspected that his wife had taken the money. So he went to Yapipa’s parents’ house and demanded her and her parents reimburse him within a week.
After his deadline, the money was not reimbursed so he laid a formal coimplaint with police. Yapipa was arrested, charged and detained at Bomana prison.