The delay in the completion of presentence reports has resulted in the adjournment of submissions on sentencing for Western Governor, Ati Wobiro, and his two co-accused.
Wobiro’s lawyer told the court that he was not ready with the submissions, because he only received the report this morning, and asked for a one month adjournment.
The adjournment was granted, but not according to the lawyer’s wish, it will be heard next Monday at 1:30pm.
The other two defendants in this case are Western Provincial Administrator, Dr. Modowa Gomoi, and businessman, Norman May.
Today was set as the date for submissions on their sentencing, but their lawyer said he needed time to review the reports and was not in a position to make submissions.
A presentence report is a study into a convicted person’s history, and is required by law to be completed before that person is sentenced.
The state lawyer, objected to the submissions and said Wobiro’s lawyer selected September 23, as the submissions date, knowing that the presentence reports were going to be released on the same date.
After much debate, Justice Martin Ipang adjourned the hearing to September 26.
The three defendants were found guilty by the National Court in Port Moresby for misappropriating over K7 million, money belonging to the Western Provincial Government to set up the Fly Care Foundation.
The count found that the foundation was never set up and the money, unaccounted for.
Following the verdict, they were allowed out on bail. This bail was extended today on the same conditions.
