Potape Charges cleared

The Waigani National Court has dismissed all charges against member for Komo-Magarima Francis Potape today after his lawyer Justin Haiara made submissions yesterday that his client had a no case to answer to.

Justice George Manuhu while handing down the decision said there is no primary evidence to support the charges against Mr Potape and he also pointed out that proper procedures were not followed when obtaining Mr Potape’s bank documents.
Justice Manuhu said the documents provided by the prosecutor fell short to prosecute Mr Potape; therefore his two charges on misappropriation of monies worth of K330, 000 were dismissed.
Mr Potape was alleged to have used K330, 000, monies belonging to the Komo-Margarima Joint District Planning and Budget Priorities Committee in which he was sentenced to prison for 2 and half years earlier this year.

He appealed his case at the Supreme Court after spending 7 months in prison and the Supreme Court granted a re-trial at the National Court in which the charges were dismissed today.
Meanwhile, a happy Mr Potape said, he is satisfied with the Courts decision and he believes this is the last time for him to be at the court house.

He said, this has been rough journey for him and his family and he expressed his disappointment to the police prosecutor for a malicious case.
“This shows the kind of work that some police men are doing, you don’t just maliciously pick someone you don’t like and prosecute”

Mr Potape said he will discuss with his lawyer whether to sue the state for malicious case that brought disharmony to his family and costed him a lot.
“The amount of damage that has been done to me because of this case is tremendous, there’s more pain and suffering and the public even named tagged me ‘’a prisoner of state” and “thief” which has really spoiled me as a leader of my people” said Mr Potape.

PNGFM / PNG Today