COURT RULED: SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE FOR AVIRA’S CASE TO BE TRIALED AT NATIONAL COURT

WAIGANI District Court senior magistrate Paul Puri Nii has admitted that a high-profile corruption case involving the acting Road Traffic Authority Chief Executive officer John Avira and his co-accused Joseph Pundu was coordinated deliberately, as there were nil human or technical errors found in how the vehicle ownership was transferred.

Despite the vehicle, which was approved by the RTA Board for the purchase at a cost of K272,815.53 at the Niu Ford Motors, Magistrate Nii said the transfer of ownership and address of the owner found in the documents were deliberately committed by Avira.

Magistrate Nii further stated that, if it was human oversight, there would be minimal errors, however, the documents received by Court revealed it was coordinated intentionally by Avira and Pundu.

“If this was human or technical error, then, only few like name or address should be missing.
“In this case, everything was perfect, word for word, so it was not an error,” Magistrate Nii told the Court.

Magistrate Nii added that this presents strong evidence to the Court, and the matter will now be trialed at the National Court in Waigani.

Avira through his lawyer Philip Tabuchi told the Court that his client, decided not to say anything to the Court before the matter was committed to the National Court.

“That’s his constitutional rights.”
“The Section 96 is now administered.”
“The defendant decided not to say anything.”

“The matter is now transferred or committed up to the National Court for the defendant (Avira) to face trail,” Magistrate Nii told the Court yesterday.

Avira’s bail was extended until the matter returns next Monday for finalisations before moving on to the high court.