BOTCHED mutiny leader Yaura Sasa has been released from remand custody on a K2,500 bail, The National reports.
Sasa, a retrenched PNG Defence Force officer, was charged with inciting mutiny and locked up at the Bomana jail last Sunday.
He and his band of about 30 renegade soldiers raided Murray Barracks headquarters last Thursday and placed commander Brig-Gen Francis Agwi under house arrest.
He claimed he was the commander, appointed by the Somare-led government on Jan 24.
Lawyer Tony Waisi filed two ex-parte applications on Monday night in the National Court – a bail application for Sasa and a court order to retrain police from arresting Somare-appointed defence minister Andrew Kumbakor and Major Silas Auro of the PNG Defence Force.
Justice George Manuhu granted the applications.
The court ordered that retired army officer Philip Plaiah, Gabriel Ramoi and Kumbakor be guarantors pledging K2,500 as cash surety and to ensure Sasa complied with bail conditions.
It means Sasa is prohibited from interfering with state witnesses, leaving NCD without the permission of the court and reporting to the National Court registry every Wednesday between 9am and 3pm.
The court also restrained authorities from arresting, harassing, intimidating, approaching, hindering, or interfering with Kumbakor and Auro, their servants and agents, subordinate and commanders from performing their duties and functions as defence personnel.
It also ordered the police not to conduct further criminal investigations, pressing further charges and prosecuting Sasa.
Kumbakor’s hearing is returnable on Friday while Sasa’s committal will be heard on Feb 29
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