Rule of law superior over customary obligations: Magistrate

By BEVERLY PETER
MAGISTRATE Paul Puri Nii says the rule of law is above customary obligations unless the life of a person is in danger.
He said this at a committal court in Waigani when refusing an application for leave by Wesley Kopman, 66, of Bitavavar village in Kokopo, East New Britain, who was charged with five counts of forgery-related offences.
Kopman sought leave to attend a customary obligation in Kokopo in relation to his wife’s death.
“Customary obligations are not important as the charges against you unless your life is in danger,” Magistrate Nii said.
He told Kopman that his reasons for attending customary obligation was not convincing as he also had a history of breaching his bail conditions.
“I would have given you permission to leave if your life will be affected or if the entire community will be benefitting from you being there,” he said
Magistrate Nii said there was no guarantee that Kopman would return – due to his bad history.
“Kopman gave a similar reason earlier and went for his wife’s funeral and did not return for which a warrant of arrest was issued for him to be rearrested,” he said.
“He was rearrested in Rabaul and brought here for his case to proceed.”
Kopman’s other reason for seeking court permission to leave was that he had been living with another family in Port Moresby for a while to attend court so he spent a lot of money and needed some break.
“Attending to the customary obligation in relation to my wife’s death is my main reason to go to Kokopo but I also need some break,” he said.
“I am a mature man and I have learnt from my first mistake for overstaying the last time I went and I will not do the same.”
Police Prosecutor Senior Sergeant Joseph Sangam said there was no guarantee of Kopman returning.
“The attachment of his airline ticket dating his arrival in Kokopo today and returning on June 27 does not garantee due to his previous case,” Sangam said.
Kopman was charged with two counts each of forgery and uttering and, stealing by false pretence and stealing.
The decision on police evidence is to be made on June 29.
Police alleged that on Aug 13, 2013, Kopman stole an Australia New Zealand (ANZ Bank blank cheque leaf of Consolidated Gaming Service PNG Ltd, allegedly wrote an amount of K286,800 to his company Styled Jaweda Ltd and allegedly forged the two signatories on the cheque.
On Aug 27, 2013, Kopman allegedly presented the cheques to ANZ with confirmation letter allegedly bearing the forged signatures of signatories of the cheque.
The cheque went through and the money was allegedly deposited into Styled Jaweda Ltd accounts.