12 months for swearing, man lectured in court about respect

By HEZRON KISING
THE Lae District Court has jailed a man 12 months for swearing at another man after he failed to pay a K1,000 fine on time.
Senior Magistrate Pious Tapil told Larsen Kun that the offence had become common which indicated a sick community where people did not have respect for each other.
“A deterrent sentence would sound an alarm and warning to others like-minded and would-be offenders not to use the ‘K’ word on each other since it is disrespectful to every member of the community,” Magistrate Tapil said.
Kun, 41, from Sari village in Wabag, Enga, pleaded guilty to the charge before Magistrate Tapil.
He was charged with using insulting words against another man “where a breach of peace was likely to take place”.
Police prosecutor Sgt Albert Sakarias stated that the offence of swearing and using insulting words against one another was becoming common in the community among men and women.
“It is in a state where people see it as just another word and it is normal among them, which is wrong and not acceptable by law,” he said.
Sgt Sakarias said the offence carried a maximum penalty of K3,000 fine or a custodial sentence of two years under section 7 (b) of the new Summary Offence Amended Act 2018.
Magistrate Tapil ordered that Kun pay a fine of K1,000 or face 12 months in prison.
Court officials revealed that Kun failed to pay the fine on the deadline, which was 4.06pm on Monday, and therefore should serve the jail sentence.