Court: Do not abuse process

By ZEDAIAH KANAU
COMPLAINANTS should not use the court process as a means of getting compensation, a magistrate says.
Waigani Committal Court Magistrate Garry Unjo yesterday told two complainants, who were trying to withdraw a case, that they could be charged with perverting the course of justice by trying to stop the process of the court just to receive compensation.
One of the complainants had told the court that if the defendant, Steven Poko, 19, from Sigiro village, Kompiam-Ambum in Enga, compensated them then they would withdraw the case.
Poko was charged with causing grievous bodily harm and remanded.
Magistrate Unjo told one of the complainant that if the case was struck out because she did not receive compensation (from Poko) and was willing to use the case as a ground for getting compensation, then the case would not be brought up again.
Magistrate Unjo said cases were only withdrawn if there was no evidence forthcoming or that the information was defective which needed correction before the case was restarted.
He said people did not withdraw cases unnecessarily.
He said it was not right to use the court for personal gain.
He told the complainants that if they were thinking of settling the matter (with Poko), then they should have made a decision before coming to court.
Magistrate Unjo then told the complainants to ask the case arresting officer when the police file would be completed and then inform the police prosecutor to let the court know in the next hearing.
The case was adjourned to Dec 10 and Poko remanded in custody.