Davis out on bail

Port Moresby’s most celebrated used car dealer Joe Davis is out of jail, freed on bail of 1000 kina (about Austsl3oo), pen ding trial on 12 charges ranging from false pretences to receiv ing stolen goods.

All arise from police raids upon his various panel-beating, wrecking and second-hand goods yards in and around Port Moresby. The raids took place during the recent concerted campaign by police against ras

cals and house-breaking gangs.

Initially Davis faced a total of 49 charges of various kinds.

Some were dismissed by the courts. Others were dropped by the police.

Defence lawyer, Mr Peter Steel, told the national court when applying for bail that his client did not have a passport, all his assets had been frozen and his businesses were closed down.

Davis, bom in Yugoslavia

Joe Davis at one of the wheels of his “two-headed” Mazda car. The other “driver” is Babani Maraga, at the time a PNG Post-Courier

journalist.

about 50 years ago, is believed to have fled Europe with his wife in the wake of the com munist repression of the 19505.

He came first to Australia and then went to Papua New Guinea where his rough diamond ways and obvious business acumen soon gained him considerable reputation.

In awarding bail, Judge McDermott accepted two sure ties from the Pacific Adventist College at 14-mile, outside Port Moresby. The college, run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, had agreed to let Davis and his wife, Irene, stay there until the end of the year. Mr Steel said the college had accepted Davis ’’purely on charity, with no other involve ment. ”

Davis will have to report twice every day to the college principal and tell police if he wishes to leave the college premises.

Judge McDermott said that by comparison with the general nature of cases brought before the courts he was not satisfied the receiving and misappropria tion charges laid against Davis were of a serious nature.

Earlier, Davis was fined 4400 kina (about Austss72o) for possession of bird of paradise plumage and 22 dried skins, in breach of the Fauna Act. He was also fined 60 kina (about Austs7B), for running a second hand car dealership without a licence and SOOkina (about Austs6so) on two charges of unlawfully possessing firearms.