Kakas’ charges dropped

By GEORGINA KOREI
THE Waigani committal court has dismissed corruption and abuse of office charges against Police media director Chief Supt Dominic Kakas yesterday.
Kakas, 55, from Wabag, Enga, was charged with one count of abuse of office and official corruption and two counts of receiving stolen properties.
Magistrate Danny Wakikura ruled that the charges be dismissed due to a lack of evidence.
“All the charges are now discharged and bail be refunded to the defendant,” he said.
Lawyer Edward Sasingian, representing Kakas, submitted that there was no evidence on the police files to show that the defendant had abused the authority of his office.
Kakas was alleged to have used his privilege to facilitate and negotiate the sale of a land located at Section 315, Lot 25-35 in Toliman Circuit, Gerehu Stage 6.
The negotiations took place during Gari Baki’s tenure as police commissioner from 2014 to 2017.
The ruling was made following an earlier submission by Sasingian that police did not provide evidence to show that the defendant had abused his office as the contract agreement was between the commissioner of police and the contractor.
He argued that a person charged with abuse of office pursuant to Section 92 of the Criminal Code Act needed to be in the position to make a decision or have the authority to make decisions.
Sasingian submitted that Kakas was at all material time the director of media with the Royal PNG Constabulary and the agreement relating to the sale was not done by his office.
He said this also applied to the charge of official corruption against Kakas.