The Supreme Court has refused a bail application by three (3) students of the University of Natural Resources and Environment (UNRE) who were locked up for allegedly setting fire to government vehicles in a protest against the university.
Justice David Cannings, made this decision last Friday after the application was presented by the trio’s lawyer David Dotaona.
…there is a risk that they will not appear in court for trial if their bail application was granted.
Justice Cannings noted.
The court heard that Israel Yafai, 30, from Wewak, East Sepik Province, Maxwell Kilewareng, 26, from Wewak, East Sepik Province and Abraham Yangola, 25, from Tari-Pori, Hela Province, who are currently jailed at the Kerevat Correction Institution, were seeking bail to travel to and work on a pineapple farm in Port Moresby.
They also claimed they have been sick while being locked up with convicts at the prison and the over crowded cells have not been helpful.
They indicated that this was their second attempt at being released on bail, after each of their applications was refused at the National Court in Kokopo.
Their case is still being processed in the District Court in Kokopo and they have yet to be committed to stand trial. However, Justice Cannings said,
I think there are too many risks involved when granting bail as strongly advised by the State (prosecutions).
As their accommodation in Port Moresby while waiting for their matter in the District Court in Kokopo to return in January, still pose a risk that they might no appear for trial.
He noted that the trio were charged with a serious criminal offense being arson, and that it was important that they be remanded at Kerevat to ensure that the case was resolved in time.
It is alleged that in September the trio were among 51 students who set fire to seven (7) vehicles.
They claimed a new school registered within the University was note recognized by the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST) and, therefore, was wrong.
Mr Yafai was the president of the UNRE Student Representative Council (SRC) and alleged to have led the protest.