Arsonist to serve two years

By HEZRON KISING
THE National Court in Lae sentenced a man convicted of burning five semi-permanent buildings at a village in Bulolo, Morobe, in 2008 to 12 years in prison on Friday.
National Court judge Justice Jacinta Murray, however deducted six years, six months and two days from the sentence for his time spent in custody.
The court heard that Frank Ngasale, 39, from Gurako village in Mumeng, Bulolo, was indicted on six counts of arson.
He was convicted on five counts of arson under section 436 (a) of the Criminal Code.
Justice Murray further suspended another three years stating that being in remand for six years awaiting his trial was substantial punishment already.
“In my view, this would be an appropriate case where a suspension would promote personal deterrence, reformation and rehabilitation for the offender, especially when the offences were not just committed by him but by the whole community,” she said.
Ngasale will serve two years, five months, four weeks and a day before he is released.
The court heard that between Oct 24 and 25, 2008, Ngasale was in company of others when they suspected another man, Graham Wanema, of being a sorcerer.
He went and set fire to a trade store and a house belonging to Wanema’s son Andrew.
Ngasale also burned another four semi-permanent houses belonging to four other people.
Justice Murray said the mitigating factors were that Ngasale was a first-time offender, the complainant had been compensated with K13,000, Ngasale had been in remand since his arrest in 2013, the offence was committed by a mob and that he had two children to look after. The aggravating factors were that Ngasale acted in concert with others, the offence was prevalent, there was a substantial loss of property and he had been convicted on five counts of arson.