Allegations against clients’ lack evidence: Lawyer

The National,Friday June 17th, 2016

A LAWYER representing two Western Highlands men charged with conspiracy to claim K4 million as compensation for school land, told the Waigani Committal Court that there was insufficient evidence.
Tipi Tape, in presenting oral submissions for both men to magistrate Cosmas Bidar, said there were a few brief facts to prove that allegations of conspiracy against Iki Dowan and Paul Embe lacked evidence.
Tape said Dowan and the complainant were from the same village in Tambul and both were owners of the land on which the school was built.
He said there was evidence that showed that the defendant was also a principal landowner.
“An association was formed but a bank account was yet to be opened.
“The association was formed and there were no office bearers named so there is no conspiracy as yet,” Tape said.
The court was told that Dowan, being a villager and illiterate, authorised Embe, who is not a landowner, to pursue the claim from the Department of Lands as a result of them setting up an association as required to obtain money.
All the members, including the complainant, had contributed K500, it was claimed.
Bidar adjourned for a possible ruling on July 5.
The police prosecutor’s report said that  according to the complainant’ssubmission, he never contributed the  K500 to the association and that he was suspicious about why the association was set up. He claimed the sole member of the association was Paul Embe, who was not a genuine landowner.
Bidar adjournedfor a possible ruling on July 5.