Court to rule on duo’s bail

By JIMMY KALEBE
TWO suspects in the recent 52kg methamphetamine bust in Lae will have a decision on their bail applications made today.
A decision on bail for four other suspects was adjourned to April 20.
Defendants Alfred Sanage, 35, from Mala village, Dei in Western Highlands, and Joshua Tupana, 33, from Siroi village in Siwai, Bougainville, were represented by their respective lawyers in the National Court in Lae, Morobe, yesterday.
Judge Paulus Mapa Dowa will make a decision on the pair’s bail applications today.
Meanwhile, Hosea Tarere, 32, from Pilapila village in Rabaul, East New Britain; Steven Temen, 28, from Sipagul village in Gumine, Chimbu; Luke Meda, 33, from Tubusereia village, Central; and, Lin Hezhong, 64, from Fuging City in Fuzieng, China, will have their bail applications heard next Thursday.
The decision on these four bail applications was adjourned to allow the State time to prepare submissions in response to them.
All defendants were remanded at the Buimo correctional facility.
Another defendant, Levi Wartovo, 39, from Kuimbu village in Wau-Waria, Morobe, was denied bail by the same court on March 31 with judge Dowa saying his offence was serious and a threat to national security.
The eighth suspect, Chun Li, 43, from Chen City, Guangdong, China, was remanded in Buimo by Lae Committal Court and would appear for mention on April 28.
Police alleged that the defendants were involved in the transportation of 52kg of methamphetamines, which were contained in 88 plastic bags, from KC2 at Seventh Street in Lae to Bulolo where the drugs were then flown to Australia.
The defendants were each charged with one count of trafficking a controlled substance with a total street value of K33 million.