All crimes deserve punishment

PEOPLE who commit crimes should not be allowed to avoid punishment.
Most times offenders are inclined to use personal reasons in order to seek leniency from the court and evade jail time but this is no excuse.
Before a person commits an offence, he should first consider the interest, welfare and well-being of his family and his personal circumstances.
The perpetrator cannot blame anyone for his predicament before embarking on a path of crime.
They committed the offence alone and should face the consequences alone.
Sexual crimes should be severely dealt with in every instance.
Crimes of this nature are more to do with a spur of a moment act than a calculated course of action.
This week Magistrate Tracy Ganaii in the Waigani Committal Court said sexual penetration cases involving child victims should be dealt with as quickly as possible.
Counsels should try to assist the court in making submissions on sufficiency of evidence in good timing.
We should make an effort to at least hear submissions on such cases quickly and the court can rule.
“I’m hearing, it’s becoming frequent in our court where cases such as this, involving penetration of children, minors, under the age of 18, and when counsels are not assisting the court, it delays the process.”
Offenders are usually opportunists who take advantage of a situation; nevertheless, these are serious crimes and should be punished accordingly.
Corruption and the abuse of power including the misuse of public money by those in positions of authority are inexcusable.
Violent and white collar crimes are problems the society is trying to deal with and part of the effort is for the reinforcement of the attitude that when you commit a crime, you should pay.
The courts are right to sentence people to years in jail for sexual and violent crimes such as murder.
The message should be clear, that you cannot injure or hurt anyone and hope to evade the lawful process by paying restitution or settling things in a customary or traditional way.
In terms of corruption and the theft of public money, the courts should not drop the ball.
If anything, this crime is a bigger problem than the aforementioned crimes because it has far-reaching consequences for the country as a whole.
This crime is a premeditated act committed by people clearly in control of their senses and with a dishonest, self-serving aim in mind.
The misappropriation of state money for personal benefit or for use outside the parameters for which the money is intended is criminal.
There can be no two ways about it.
These people are no better than thieves and robbers and should be treated as such.
While there is some sympathy for those affected, such as family members who will be affected when their father or main provider is jailed, the blame for this predicament should lie solely with the person who broke the law.
Some have even had the boldness to shift blame minimising their involvement in the crimes and pointing the finger at other individuals.
Others have developed serious medical conditions almost overnight after sentencing.
These ploys should be seen for what they are.
They are nothing more than cowardly and pathetic attempts to avoid what is deemed a just punishment for the crime.
The law, which should be independent of any and all political influence, should be upheld.