Police prosecutor courageously exposes cops who protect criminals
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| Beche-de-mer (sea cucumber) is lucrative business by strictly controlled by the Papua New Guinea Government (Image for illustration only). |
Police prosecutor courageously exposes cops who protect criminals
PORT MORESBY: It takes great courage for a police prosecutor to expose the wrong doings of his superiors in court.
That was exactly what happened in the Waigani committal court on Thursday (July 4, 2019) when police prosecutor Chief Sgt Koniu Polon argued that bail should not be granted to a Chinese national because he had police officer “friends”.
“We have had problems locating him in the past because certain police officers know him and are reluctant to arrest him.
“Chen (the accused had also used threats, telling investigating officers: Tambu man blomi em army man, em bai lukim you (My in-law is a soldier, and he will see you),” he said.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below details of the court proceedings as published by The National:
Work permit sees bail denied
By TREVOR WAHUNEA POLICE prosecutor argued in court that a Chinese national, accused of illegally trading in beche-der-mer (sea cucumber), should be denied bail because he had police officer “friends”.
“We have had problems locating him in the past,” Chief Sgt Koniu Polon argued.
“If he is granted bail, there are certain police officers who know him, and they would avoid arresting him.”
Polon added: “Chen (the accused) had also used threats in a previous occasion, telling investigating officers: ‘Tambu man blomi em army man, em bai lukim you’ (My in-law is a soldier, and he will see you).
Defence lawyer Agnes Peter argued the prosecution had failed to observed strict rules of evidence as the arguments were not filed and served to her formally.
William Chen Youwang, 41, from China’s Fuji, was charged with five counts of illegal possession of national fisheries produce in the Waigani committal court yesterday.
Magistrate Cosmas Bidar denied Chen bail for allegedly illegal possession of sea cucumbers in Port Moresby’s Fisherman Island on June 15. Bidar denied bail on grounds that relevant documents, such as Chen’s work permits, had no standing to guarantee he would comply with bail conditions.
Bidar ruled after Chen’s lawyer, Agnes Peter from the office of the public solicitor, lodged Chen’s bail application on grounds that Chen was married to a local woman, Dulcie Peter Kasin, and that he had two children. Peter also argued that Chen had no previous criminal record but Polon objected that prior to Chen’s arrest, he was allegedly engaged in illegal buying and selling of sea cucumbers.
Bidar dismissed Peter’s submissions and said: “The right to bail is not an absolute right. Interest of justice has to be taken into account.”
Hearing was adjourned to July 30.
“We have had problems locating him in the past,” Chief Sgt Koniu Polon argued.
“If he is granted bail, there are certain police officers who know him, and they would avoid arresting him.”
Polon added: “Chen (the accused) had also used threats in a previous occasion, telling investigating officers: ‘Tambu man blomi em army man, em bai lukim you’ (My in-law is a soldier, and he will see you).
Defence lawyer Agnes Peter argued the prosecution had failed to observed strict rules of evidence as the arguments were not filed and served to her formally.
William Chen Youwang, 41, from China’s Fuji, was charged with five counts of illegal possession of national fisheries produce in the Waigani committal court yesterday.
Magistrate Cosmas Bidar denied Chen bail for allegedly illegal possession of sea cucumbers in Port Moresby’s Fisherman Island on June 15. Bidar denied bail on grounds that relevant documents, such as Chen’s work permits, had no standing to guarantee he would comply with bail conditions.
Bidar ruled after Chen’s lawyer, Agnes Peter from the office of the public solicitor, lodged Chen’s bail application on grounds that Chen was married to a local woman, Dulcie Peter Kasin, and that he had two children. Peter also argued that Chen had no previous criminal record but Polon objected that prior to Chen’s arrest, he was allegedly engaged in illegal buying and selling of sea cucumbers.
Bidar dismissed Peter’s submissions and said: “The right to bail is not an absolute right. Interest of justice has to be taken into account.”
Hearing was adjourned to July 30.
Sea cucumber case
A MAN from Port Moresby’s Fisherman Island pleaded guilty in the Waigani District Court to illegal possession of more than 200kg of beche-der-mer (sea cucumber).
Kari Babaka was also charged with on one count of causing the island villagers to harvest and sell sea cucumbers but he pleaded not guilty.
Magistrate Cosmas Bidar adjourned sentencing and hearing to July 4.
Babaka admitted to harvesting, buying and selling various amounts of sea cucumbers that the Government had prohibited under the Fisheries Management Act 1998.
Bidar said the offences were in breach of a National Gazette G368 published under the Beche-der-mer Management Plan 2018 which prohibited the harvest and sale of sea cucumbers.
The National Fisheries Authority had charged Babaka with one count of possessing 84.13kg of sea cucumbers, another count of possessing 24kg of boiled sea cucumbers, two count of having 60.92kg and 84.92kg of sea cucumbers and a count of buying 24kg of sea cucumbers.
Kari Babaka was also charged with on one count of causing the island villagers to harvest and sell sea cucumbers but he pleaded not guilty.
Magistrate Cosmas Bidar adjourned sentencing and hearing to July 4.
Babaka admitted to harvesting, buying and selling various amounts of sea cucumbers that the Government had prohibited under the Fisheries Management Act 1998.
Bidar said the offences were in breach of a National Gazette G368 published under the Beche-der-mer Management Plan 2018 which prohibited the harvest and sale of sea cucumbers.
The National Fisheries Authority had charged Babaka with one count of possessing 84.13kg of sea cucumbers, another count of possessing 24kg of boiled sea cucumbers, two count of having 60.92kg and 84.92kg of sea cucumbers and a count of buying 24kg of sea cucumbers.
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