Tough bail conditions have been imposed by the Waigani District Court after it granted K3,000 court bail on PNG Electoral Commissioner, Patilias Gamato at 6:30pm on Friday 18th September.
The 53-year-old from Huon Gulf in Morobe province was arrested for Official Corruption amongst two other charges.
He was refused police bail when he was locked up at the Boroko cells following his arrest at 4pm yesterday.
These charges involve allegations dating back to 2017 involving over K184, 000 which was found inside the vehicle driven by NCD Election Manager Terrence Hitinu.
Gamato spent at least four hours inside the police cells while his lawyer ran to the courts seeking bail.
At 6:30pm yesterday the District Court granted Gamato bail on grounds that he was a departmental head and needed to be out on bail to continue his constitutional duties.
He was finally released from the police cells at 8pm last night.
Gamato’s bail condition includes; he should not interfere with possible state witnesses, he should seek court’s approval before attending to constitutional duties outside of NCD and attend all court hearings.
Considering his position as a departmental head, court orders were made to have Gamato’s bail amount deposited into the District Court Registry and later paid through the Department of Finance as the decision was made after all govemernt officers had closed for business for the weekend.
By Theckla Gunga, EMTV News, Port Moresby
