Porn bearer lied

Martin Ogoba, from Northern, used name and village of Manus relative

 

MANUS MP Job Pomat has refuted claims the man, arrested and charged with possessing pornographic material is from Manus, The National reports.

Pomat, the minister for Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs, was angry yesterday the person, claiming to be Martin Wojeiba, had tarnished his village Rosun.

To complicate matters, the real Martin Wojeiba turned up at the Boroko police station to notify police that the culprit had used his name in vain.

By the end of the day, police had worked out that the person they had in custody was Martin Ogoba, 23, from Kausada village, Northern.

Earlier, Pomat had visited the suspect at the Boroko police station cells because he was not convinced the suspect was from Rosun village where he was from.

He said the man admitted to him that he was from Popondetta, Northern.

"There is no such person from Rosun and he was lying," Pomat said.

Police arrested Ogoba last Saturday as he was attempting to blackmail and extort money from former Miss PNG and television presenter Antonia Singut. 

He was charged with possessing pornographic material while police investigate the blackmail and extortion claims which may involve two other accomplices.

Police had to apologise to the real Wojeiba, who was obviously angry when he fronted up at the Boroko police station to demand an explanation.

Wojeiba, in his 40s, however, told the investigation detectives that he and Ogoba were related.

He said he was shocked to see his name on the front page of The National and went to thestation to clear his name.

Officer-in-charge of the sexual offence squad senior Sgt Tinol Pakiapon apologised to him and later questioned the detainee, who admitted his real surname was Ogoba, not Wojeiba.

"We have since unreservedly apologised to Martin Wojeiba for the inconvenience this story may have caused him and his family," Pakiapon said.

"After viewing the contents of the sex movie, we have established that the video was produced abroad and the characters in the sex tape are foreigners."

He said anyone attempting to blackmail or extort favours from the young journalist would be arrested.

The suspect's mobile phone containing several hardcore pornographic movies was confiscated.

He faces attempted blackmail and extortion charges.

EMTV acting general manager Peter Jackson had condemned the pornography claims made against Singut, labelling them as the work of sick-minded people.

He confirmed that the newsroom was being bombarded by numerous malicious telephone calls that had left other female staff intimidated and threatened as a result of the allegations since early this year.

NCD Central divisional police commander Fred Sheekiot said the suspect would face an extra charge of giving police a false address.

Sheekiot declined to comment further on how police officers failed to record correct particulars when charging individuals.