Magistrate throws out case over forged vaccination cards

The Port Moresby's WAIGANI Committal Court has struck out two counts of fraud related charges against two men who allegedly forged Coronavirus (Covic-19) vaccination cards last year in Port Moresby for want of police file.
Magistrate Paul Puri Nii, in striking out the case against Ephraim Wafiwahen, 24, of Suandogum village in Yangoru-Saussia; and, Elvis Kambaigat, 33, of Kominikum village in Wosera-Gawi, in East Sepik; said there was no evidence before the court against their charges.
“Our law says that even though you are arrested and charged for doing something wrong, you are innocent until proven guilty,” the magistrate said.
“It is by law that police must provide the evidence to the court but they did not do that.”

He said his ruling was not done by assessing any evidence.
Police alleged that Kambaigat, who was allegedly employed with Star Printers Ltd at Vision City, on his off day last Aug 9, allegedly went to the printing shop and asked one of his workmates to print two copies of his scanned Covid-19 vaccine card.
Kambaigat allegedly paid K3.50 for each as charged by the printery.
It was alleged that Kambaigat provided his own coloured paper for his scanned card to be printed on.
Police further alleged that Kambaigat informed Wafiwahen and they allegedly started producing the fake cards and selling them for prices between K30 and K50.
Two of the people who bought the fake vaccination cards presented them to their employers to reclaim their jobs but the employers found out that the cards were fake.
The employers reported the matter to the police who arrested and charged Kambaigat and Wafiwahen.

The National / PNG Health Watch 

​Next : Drugs Run Out Of PNG Hospitals