Aust pilot to face more charges

The National Main Stories

BY MIRIAM ZARRIGA
AUSTRALIAN pilot David John Cutmore who flew into the country on an aircraft without clearance is expected to face charges under the Pandemic Act, says Police Commissioner David Manning.
But he pointed out that it would be better to deport Cutmore, 52, so that he could be dealt under Australian laws rather than PNG laws.
If successfully convicted in Australiaof such serious drug crime, one could face 25 years in prison.
In PNG, the maximum sentence is only two years in jail.
Cutmore was fined K3,000 by a court in Port Moresby last week on a charge of illegal entry under the Migration Act.
A joint operation by the Australian Federal Police and PNG police last week uncovered the drug syndicate in both countries which was trying to transport cocaine from PNG to Australia.
More than 600kg of cocaine valued at around K160 million were packed into 28 bags and were to be taken back by Cutmore on the aircraft.
But the aircraft crashed during take-off.
Manning did not specify what charges Cutmore would face.
“This is a new and difficult challenge for the constabulary given the fact we are inadequately resourced and have outdated legislation in dealing with such crimes,” he said.
“For example, if the pilot was charged under PNG laws his maximum penalty would be two years in jail for possession of the drugs.”
On whether Cutmore had flown to PNG before, Manning said it had to be confirmed with him.
“We need to process facts,” he said.
“The more we debrief him the more we know what he had done in the past.”

12 comments

  • We have wonderful access to drugs in PNG thanks to our fantastic politicians, police and judiciary; most of us wouldn’t want it any other way. If you are going to deport Cutmore to the Aussies, it would discourage overseas drug dealers from operating here and we would have to go back to betel nut or really expensive drugs. Nobody would want that.

  • That’s an act of careful masterminding from them but the police were able to stop them on time.

  • This case is the “first of its kind.” What decision we make now will set a precedent for the future similar offences. Therefore, it is critical to make an appropriate decision.

  • The case is too hard for us so pass it on to the Ozzies. What a lousy tone to a very serious crime. PNG Governments are very good and quick to alter our constitution. The pendamic act too fews day and was made for the tune of foreigners. Are we just gonna let it be? Everyone were up in arms about the GBV to change laws etc. Come on PC here is your chance to put something in place for the good of your 8million people.

  • If a PNG man do this on Australian soil he would have been by now and a good number of years will be served on him.PNG authorities must apply tough Lawson him

  • Toughen up our laws from two years to 30-50 years so that these aliens dont use our soil to damage and destroy our people.
    PNG govt please take it on and noken mari mari na bow down lo Australians. They do not care about you and I.
    About time PNG stood up for our own rights and protect our people.

  • Goodness, PNG was dreaming all those past years it seems. With outdated drug offense laws you have made PNG a transit haven for international crime syndicates. I would rathe spend two years in a PNG jail than spend my whole life behind Australian bars.
    It’s ridiculous that someone would get only 2 years jail sentence for smuggling over 500kg of pure cocaine. In Singapore and Indonesia he would be on the death row already with such an amount of drugs.
    Change the law please…ASAP.

  • K3000 only is for planning and smuggling coccaine to PNG?
    My opinion only, this is not enough. We should impose tough laws on such cases.

    For PNG citizens, 18 monts for in posession of illict drug (marujuana)?

    heheheheh, lol.

  • Deport him so he is dealt with by Australian Law.. PNG Laws are too weak against such offence.

  • Give him png police brutality before he returns to Aus so others can be warned and never come back here.

  • Let this be a ‘wake up call’ for us and tighten up our domestic laws dealing with this type of criminal offence, even if it means to review the current 2 year term to life imprisonment.

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