By PETER MIVA
A WARD councillor has been placed on a three-year good behaviour bond after he was found guilty of injuring another man with an iron bar three years ago.
Judge Justice Geroge Manuhu of the Lae National Court also ordered Samson Timson of Kamkumung village to pay K1,000 to Francis Maima within four weeks.
He told Timson, of Ward 15, that he was fortunate that Maima offered him the choice of paying the fine or going to jail.
Timson expressed remorse and said that he had already paid Maima’s medical expenses and some pigs as compensation.
He appealed for a non-custodial sentence to enable him to organise peace and further compensation between him and the victim and his relatives.
Justice Manuhu said he initially intended to jail Timson as a warning to other leaders that promoting ethnic clashes could not be condoned.
He changed his mind after consulting Maima on a suitable penalty for the councillor.
“Leaders should set the example to the community,” he added.
Maima suffered a broken jaw in the incident at the Kamkumung market on Nov 16, 2004.
Timson had contended that he hit Maima only once but Justice Manuhu said the medical report indicated multiple injuries.