Businessman fined under new Apec law

By Max Aumora
A Port Moresby businessman charged with making a bomb threat against the Apec meeting was fined K500 in the Boroko District Court in Port Moresby yesterday.
Lamson Parua was the first person charged under the Apec Safety and Security Act 2017. Police asked for the maximum sentence of seven months imprisonment allowed under the Act, but Magistrate Rosmary Koimo said the question should be: “Was the threat serious?”
The court found that police did not properly investigate the case and they did not prove that the threat made was indeed serious and warranted the maximum sentence of seven months imprisonment.
In sentencing Parua, 29, Koimo took into account his guilty plea and that he cooperated with police. He said that because Parua was under the influence of alcohol, he was careless with his words.
Parua is originally from Roglomb village, Dei Council, Western Highlands. Police alleged that on May 17, he was with other people in a car when they stopped near the Apec Convention Centre in Waigani. During a commotion, Parua threatened the security guards, saying that he had a bomb, police said.
Parua was later arrested and charged.
Speaking to Parua, Koimo said: “When under the influence of intoxicating liquor, be mindful of your surroundings.”
Parua said: “I just want to apologise to the people of PNG and my family.
“I’m a good member of the community. A lot of people in my community look up to me and for the young people who look up to me to see what I’ve done, they were all worried. I never intended this to happen.
“I love my country and I want to give back to my country.”