Court orders man to pay compensation

A YOUNG man who punched his girlfriend in the face for talking to another man has been ordered by the Mt Hagen District Court to compensate her with K300 yesterday.
Magistrate Lydia Karre found Jeffert Michael, 24, from Ialibu, Southern Highlands, guilty of attacking Mesi Fausa last Friday at Warakum in Mt Hagen.
Police told the court that Michael, who lives at Warakum with his guardians, saw his girlfriend talking with another young man and proceeded to punch Fausa in her left eye.
Police said the victim lodged a complaint at the Mt Hagen Police Station.
Michael told the court that he voluntarily surrendered at the station the next day where he was formally arrested and charged.
He pleaded guilty to the assault charge and apologised to court and said he would not do it again.
Magistrate Karre issued an order for his release from police custody and told him to pay K300 compensation to his girlfriend within two months.
She said young people, especially those in school, needed to conduct themselves in a reasonable manner when interacting with others in the community.
Karre told Michael such behaviour could jeopardise his education and advised him to focus on his studies.