Man goes to prison for failing to repay his friend K34,000

By DAPHNE WANI
A MAN has been jailed for three years for failing to repay in full K34,000 he took from a friend in Port Moresby in 2012.
Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika told Lawrence Suzuata that the jail term would be suspended if he agreed that the Court ordered to have K31,463.60 deducted from his Nasfund savings.
“If he does not agree, then he serves the three years until the (money) is paid,” Justice Sir Gibbs said.
The court heard that Suzuata obtained K34,000 from his friend Ben Sine to buy gold and promised to repay it. He only paid back K1900.
The court heard that Sine had since been reminding Suzuata about his promise to repay the money. Sine got frustrated after numerous attempts to recover his money and reported the matter to police.
Justice Sir Gibbs took into account that Suzuata was a first offender and had pleaded guilty to the charge.
But he said “a significant amount was obtained and still outstanding after five years”.
Justice Sir Gibbs Salika said the offence of obtaining goods by false pretence was increasing.