By Julie Badui Owa – EMTV News, Lae
The Lae District Court for the fourth time has adjourned the case of the four Chinese men who entered the country illegally.
The court will hear their plea 19th of October this year.
The delay of the court decision was due to the absence of an interpreter. All the defendants don’t understand English or Tok Pisin.
Magistrate Edward Kupo ordered the defendants, their council and the police prosecutor to have an interpreter present in court by Friday this week.
The delay of a court case involving four Chinese men for breaching the Migration Act since July this year at Lae District Court was due to the unavailability of an interpreter.
Lae’s District Court Magistrate, Edward Kupo this morning asked the counsel representing the Chinese men and the police prosecutor to have an interpreter available in court by Friday this week.
Kupo also asked the Immigration and Citizenship Authority office in Lae to point out the laws breached by these Chinese men that warrant them to appear in court.
These men originate from Fujian province, China. They were employed with the Sany Limited Company, a Chinese-owned factory in Lae that produces Lipo Juice and purified water.
In July, the Lae Police through the assistance of PNG Immigration in Lae, arrested these men on three separate charges for illegally entering the country.
They were charged for entry into the country without valid permit or VISA, false information on their entry permit and were in possession of an entry permit without lawful authority.
Three of these men were released on bail at K2, 100 each three months ago, while another was released at K2, 800. They are currently out on bail at K 9, 900.
Magistrate Kupo told the Office of Immigration to check the defendants’ documents including their passports and point out what is missing and the laws breached by the four Chinese men.
He said there’s no point conducting a trial if the documents are clear. Meanwhile, their case was adjourned to the 19th of October this year.
