Court aware of harassment outcry: Magistrate

A MAGISTRATE says the court is aware of the public outcry against the sexual harassment and assault of women, and is trying to do something about it within the law.
Lae Committal Court magistrate Edward Kupo said offences committed against elderly women, young women and teenaged girls were “morally wrong”.
“The (people) have said that the court be (more) hard on (punishing) offenders,” Kupo said.
“The court is trying its best to (find a) balance – in terms of what the law says, which is different to what the people say.
“The court has to consider what the law says about such offences, and then hear what the people’s concerns are. “The people have asked the court to make some (tough) decisions on offenders.”
He made the comments when hearing the case of a man accused of sexually harassing and raping two teenagers.
Ulastone Jonathan, 40, from Sumkar in Madang, was charged with one count of sexual penetration of a minor, and one count of sexual harassing a minor.
The court heard that on July 8 last year, Jonathan allegedly assaulted a 12-year-old girl.
He also allegedly harassed a nine-year-old girl on more than one occasion.
The case was adjourned to tomorrow, Jan 24.