COURT ADJOURNED GOROKA MP AIYE TAMBUA’S CASE TO JULY, SUPPORTERS HARRASSED MEDIA

By Benjamin Koitaka

GOROKA MP Aiye Tambua to appear at the Committal Court in Waigani, after two months, while allowing police to gather victims’ statements and more information regarding his alleged sexual offense case.

In a hearing this morning, Thursday, 9th of May 2024, presiding magistrate Paul Puri Nii moved the matter to Tuesday, 9th of July 2024, for further directions.

Magistrate Nii also noted that the victims are currently out of the country and that would require ample time for them (victims) to hand their statements to the police, while police also need to fast-track their investigations, which will then formulate the police hand-up brief to be presented to the Court.

While Court duly upholds the previous submission or motion from Mr. Tambua through his lawyer Edward Sasingian especially on freedom of movement, the court refuses the second motion to bar media from reporting.

Magistrate Nii said Mr. Tambua can travel within the country for the next-two months as duly elected member of the parliament and can perform his duly task and functions, however he may seek Court’s approval to travel overseas.

Mr. Tambua is facing a 26-counts of alleged sexual abuse against his children and family members and is out on K10 000 bail.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Nii disputed the second motion to bar media, adding that media is everyone’s freedom, the eyes and ears of every Papua New Guineans within the country and abroad, and that cannot be stopped.

However, while outside of the Court House today, a TV Wan News Crew member (camera-man) was verbally commanded to take his camera off to avoid taking any picture or footages, while Mr. Tambua was making his way out of the court room to his car, at the car-park.

Whilst walking to the carpark, at the Waigani Court vicinity, Mr. Tambua was escorted and seen barricaded by his supporters to prevent the media from taking photographs or videos.

Picture: Goroka MP Aiye Tambua.