The seven police men accused of killing a suspect in Port Moresby, have been released on K1000 each National Court Bail yesterday afternoon.
Their grounds for bail include personal safety while being remanded at Bomana and lack of evidence against them.
The accused were arrested between March 8th and 12th and charged for one count of murder each.
Because of the seriousness of the charge, they were refused police bail. The matter is being investigated by Criminal Investigations Division.
The seven accused police men are all between the ages of 24 and 27, and are members of the NCD Task Force Unit.
It is alleged that the seven had picked up deceased, Brian Lucas, at a rugby oval in Port Moresby.
Lucas was wanted for a break and enter incident allegedly occurred in December 2017.
The court heard the seven assaulted and tortured Lucas before dropping him at the Boroko Police Station.
Lucas had complained of pains and was taken to the hospital. Lucas was pronounced dead on arrival. The seven had told the security guards at the Hospital then, that Lucas was an escapee and was shot by Correctional Officers.
Yesterday afternoon, the seven submitted that they were police officers and should not be remanded at the Bomana Prison, because their lives would be at risk.
They also submitted that there was not enough evidence to link them to the murder charge.
But the state objected to their bail applications on the grounds that the charge was serious and bail should not be granted.
However, Justice George Manuhu, was of the view that seven extra men at Bomana prison would mean the prison would need more food ration and the prison had limited accommodate space.
Justice Manuhu granted each a National Court bail of K1000 on the conditions that they do not interfere with investigations and remain in NCD during their proceedings.
