Couple breached protection order, magistrate notes

By JACINTA COHLEE
A MAN charged with breaching an interpersonal protective order (IPO) had his case adjourned for the complainant to give statements on Friday.
The Lae District Court adjourned the case of Rex Nepai, 34, from Lumi village in Aitape, West Sepik, and allowed a court bail of K500.
“Your wife got an IPO (restraining order) for you to stay away from her, but you still visited her and the children, and assaulted her,” Magistrate Pious Tapil said.
After the court heard Nepai’s explanation, it adjourned the case to June 22 for the complainant to appear and give her statement.
Magistrate Tapil told Nepai that they (him and his wife) had abused a court order.
The court then noted that the couple did breach the conditions stipulated in the protection order that was given under the Family Protection Act 2013.
The police alleged that on May 22, at Nawae Back Street in Lae, Morobe, Nepai swore at their one-year-old child when his wife heard him.
The police hand-brief in court stated that after Nepai’s wife heard him swearing at their child, an argument ensued in which she was punched in the face.
The victim reported the matter to the police and they arrested Nepai at his workplace.