POLYE CLEARED OF CHARGES

CAPTION: Former Kandep MP Don Pomb Polye with supporters at the court hearing at Waigani today.

BY BENJAMIN KOITAKA

FORMER Kandep MP Don Pomb Polye has been cleared and set to walk free after fraud and corruption charges laid against him were dismissed.

This was due to lack or insufficient evidence presented to the Court to commit him to trial at the National Court.
The Waigani District Court senior magistrate Paul Puri Nii this morning (Tuesday, 16th of June) dismissed the matter, adding that his bail money be refunded together with his confiscated items.

Presiding magistrate Nii ruled that Court-ousted Kandep MP’s three charges in attempting to Pervert justice (Sec 136), Conspiring to Defeat Justice (Sec 128) and Official Corruption under (Sec 87) are now dismissed, as the Court cannot find enough evidence to proceeded the matter to high court.

Magistrate Nii ordered that there is insufficient evidence to commit the defendant (Polye) for trial under Section 136 of the Criminal Code Act and insufficient evidence to commit defendant for trial under Section 128 of the Criminal Code Act.

The Court further heard that there is insufficient evidence to commit the defendant (Polye) for trail under Section 87 (1) (a) (ii) of the Criminal Code Act.

Magistrate Nii said due to the Committal Court find insufficient evidence for all three charges, the matter cannot continue further.

The ex-Kandep MP was arrested and charged for allegedly attempting to pervert the course of justice, conspire to defraud and official corruption of more than K1.7million belonging to PNG Sports Foundation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

“The Waigani Committal Court has cleared Don Polye of all the three charges of official corruption and the other two charges,” Polye’s legal counsel Edward Sasingian told media outside of Court House.
“The Case is dismissed.

“The Ruling has been given by His Worship Magistrate Paul Nii.”

Meanwhile, Polye said he is relieved by the decision and stood firm to serve and fight corruption in this country.
“Very happy with the outcome today,” Polye said.