Kapris treated like ‘a terrorist’

By JAYNE SAFIHAO, The National

ALLEGED bank robber William Nanua Kapris told the National Court in Madang yesterday that his rights have been deprived and “I am being treated like a terrorist”.
Speaking in court before Justice David Cannings, Kapris said his rights had been deprived since his 25-month imprisonment at Bomana and that his human rights had been abused.
“Even in Madang, I am still under tight security,” he added.
“Our case is a big case. It’s our life, but I have not been allowed access to my lawyer David Dotaona.
“My family and I are willing to pay for travel and accommodation costs. I am being treated like a terrorist,” he told the court, adding: “I want to be treated like a normal state prisoner.”
However, Justice Cannings said: “This is not a human rights abuse case. If you have any human rights complaints, then you can bring it up with your lawyers, the same goes for the others with similar complaints.”
Kapris and 14 others were appearing in relation to the Madang BSP heist in 2008 during which K2 million was stolen and a substantial amount was yet to be recovered.
Cannings allowed an application by senior state prosecutor Pondros Kaluwin to adjourn the case to this morning.
Kaluwin expressed concern that the 10-day trial period was “not realistic”.
Asked why by Cannings, Kaluwin said this was because the matter had changed hands with different prosecutors as well as the need for him to speak to the defence counsel.
In his response, Cannings said: “We had a series of pre-trial earlier in the year. We originally set this trial for May but, due to your office’s slackness and lack of capability, we have been delayed. I had to personally ring the acting public prosecutor to sort this matter out. So, I will allow for tomorrow (today) at 9am.”
Then Cannings asked Kaluwin: “Do you think you will be prepared then?” When Kaluwin responded with a “we’ll see”, Cannings said: “That you will.”                                        
Kapris’ suspected accomplices, 14 (named) and all smartly dressed and mingling like in a high school re-union after the court, were represented by Lae-based state solicitor’s office, a private Lae-based lawyer and Dotaona.
The courthouse was cordoned off, including the provincial government building area, disrupting normal business as the public and people living along the Kina Beach residential area tried accessing the nearby offices to have a glimpse of proceedings.                       
Off duty policeman Sgt Joe Mbur said: “The temporary arrangement by concerned authorities is causing unnecessary inconveniences. Kapris should just be treated like any normal prisoner.”                                     
Reporters were not allowed to take photographs of the prisoners outside the court house.                                      
Police are on a 24- hour vigil around the courthouse area as a precautionary measure.

Kapris pleads guilty

By JAYNE SAFIHAO, The National

TOP robbery suspect William Kapris Nanua yesterday pleaded guilty to robbing the Madang branch of Bank South Pacific in 2008.
In a day of drama in court, Kapris broke from 13 other suspects arraigned on similar charges, and pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit a robbery.
But he pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of kidnapping, 14 counts of deprivation of liberty, and one count of receiving stolen property. The others pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The courtroom in the afternoon was thrown into confusion yesterday when Kapris’ lawyer David Dotaona sought an application to have his client’s matter heard separately after the guilty plea for the two charges was taken.
With Kapris taking his seat first in the witness box, he entertained the courtroom by giving conflicting pleas to Justice David Cannings.
Kapris initially said “yes” when asked by Cannings if he had committed the offences in the 28 counts.
He then had a quick glance across to his lawyer, and changed the answer to “no”.
Dotaona immediately stood to ask leave to speak to his client. After a brief whisper, Kapris said he was sticking with the not guilty plea for the 28 counts.
Earlier in the morning, Dotaona had asked Cannings to allow a two-week extension for him and his client to properly prepare for the defence, but this was refused.
Cannings emphasised that any extension was an unnecessary waste of time and very costly for the state.
“I have considered the cost to the state, the people of PNG having to prepare and get the matter to trial and the security measures in place,” he said.
“I consider it to be in the public interest for the trial to proceed.
“I want a fair trial in an independent court.
“I refuse the application for the two-week extension. The trial will begin now,” he ruled.
It was likely that Kapris could become a state witness despite pleading not guilty to the 27 other charges.
Cannings, when deliberating on the likelihood of having a separate trial, said: “There was no indication given to me during pre-trial. This is a new development.
“I will consider the depositions put ... since he has pleaded guilty, and not being convicted yet ... you want the others to go to trial before another judge?
“I will have to adjourn,” he said as he pondered over the matter.
The Madang BSP robbery occurred on July 5, 2008, when a total of K2,407,315.35 was stolen.
During the robbery, a number of bank workers were allegedly kidnapped and detained in a hotel.
Meanwhile, the court was also advised by Correctional Services officers that Don Aka, Elijah Paul Kapis or Elijah Tinga and Ben Nom, who is also known as “Toi Apet”, were still at large after breaking out of the Bomana prison on Jan 12.
The hearing continues today.

Kapris to stand trial in Madang

By JOSHUA ARLO, Post Courier

HIGH profile robber and convicted criminal William Kapris is expected to travel this month to Madang to face trial for the armed robbery of the Bank South Pacific Madang branch.
He is expected to appear before Justice David Cannings at the National Court in Madang.
State prosecutors confirmed in court with Justice Cannings last month at the National Court in Waigani that arrangements were being made with authorities to have Kapris in Madang before August 10, the expected trial date.
Four other co-accused remanded at the Bomana jail with Kapris will also travel for the same case. They will join nine other suspects allegedly involved in the same robbery who are being detained in Madang.
More than K2 million was stolen from the bank on July 5, 2008 when a gang held hostage bank workers and escaped with a nine hour head start before police were alerted.
This began a massive man hunt by police who caught him travelling with a group to the Aroma coast in Central Province 13 days later.
All the accused are charged with using violence and stealing K2,407,315.35 from the Madang BSP branch manager when armed with dangerous weapons.
He has still to face trial in connection to the armed holdup of the rural BSP Kerema branch in the Gulf Province which was done two months before the one in Madang.
The gang split in two, with one in Port Moresby to kidnap and hold hostage children of a bank executive as others went to Kerema to get co-operation to access the monies.
It is understood that more than a million kina was stolen.
They escaped to Port Moresby via a dinghy and by road.
Police allege that Kapris is the brain behind these two Hollywood-like bank robberies.
He was on the run after escaping from the Bomana jail and allegedly committed these crimes, plus the armed robbery of the Metal Refinery Operations (MRO) in which several gold bars worth more than K2 million and a substantial amount of cash was stolen.
He pleaded guilty to this robber and was sentenced to five years.
However the National Court, using its discretion, suspended the sentence and imposed a three-year good behaviour bond on him when he is released from prison.
State prosecutors have filed a Supreme Court challenge against the National Court’s decision on penalty which is still to be heard.