Bashed wife gets K2000 in compo

By JAMES GUMUNO
A WIFE basher has been ordered by the Mt Hagen District Court to pay his wife K2000 for attacking her with a piece of timber with nails on it.
The court described Paka Koim, a father of two, from Kuta village, on the outskirts of Mt Hagen, as a “chronic” wife basher and
ordered him yesterday to stay 200 metres away from his wife, Pricilla Mark.
Magistrate Jacinta Doa also ordered Koim to pay a K300 court fine before he can be released from custody.
Koim was arrested by Mt Hagen police on Feb 16 after he attacked his wife with a piece of timber that had nails on it.
The attack took place on China Town Street .
The court issued the penalty after hearing from the victim that it was not the first time the defendant had attacked her.
“He used to beat me like that in the past,” she said.
“But I do not report it to the police.
“And this is the first time I am taking him to court.”
Mark showed photos of her injuriesd and medical reports from Mt Hagen General Hospital to the court.
The defendant admitted to the crime and apologized to the court and his wife.
Koim said he would not beat his wife that way again.
The court found him guilty of an offence and ordered him to pay his wife K2000 within three weeks, pay a court fine of K300, and stay 200 metres away from her.
The court ordered the defendant not to call his wife by mobile phone or threaten her.
She ordered Mark and Koim to return to court on April 1 to find out if Koim had paid the K2000 compensation.
Doa also wants to know from Mark whether she still wants to stay with her husband or file separate court proceeding and end the marriage.