‘Cowardly act’ earns soldier 2yrs

By SCHOLAR KASSAS
A JUDGE has jailed a Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) officer for two years with hard labour for assault causing bodily harm to his partner over a duet TikTok video, telling him that it was a cowardly act of a man towards his partner.
“Officers in the PNGDF who behave like this have no place in the force, they are a disgrace to the uniform they wear and should be sternly dealt with,” Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika told Lt Murray Oa in the Waigani National Court.
“Lt Oa, 34, from Central and Enga, is expected to have discipline in his actions because PNGDF is a disciplined force.
“He would have been trained to be disciplined in all aspects of life and to have more self-control and instead of waiting for an explanation from the victim, he assaulted her.
“It is a cowardly act of a man towards a woman who is his partner.”
Sir Gibbs jailed Lt Oa two years at Bomana prison.
“This imprisonment will deter Lt Oa and will also deter other soldiers and those in other disciplinary forces,” he said.
Sir Gibbs said domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence was deeply entrenched in Papua New Guinea communities.
“Lt Oa and the victim had lacked trust in their relationship, therefore, counselling on marriage life and what it takes to be married and responsibilities that go with it should be engaged to them” he said.
“There should be trust and commitment between a man and a woman.”
On June 4, 2020, Lt Oa, attached to Murray Barracks and living at Goldie Barracks, arrived home intoxicated with alcohol and began questioning the victim over the video she made over TikTok.
Before the victim explained, Lt Oa punched her on the face with his fists.
The victim took some punches and lost her balance, falling on the floor.
Lt Oa then held out a heated iron and placed it on her left thigh and burned her.
He continued burning her on her left cheek, chest and abdomen while she cried in pain.
Lt Oa also hit her twice on the left side of the forehead with the iron as she struggled to get back on her feet.
The victim managed to escape later and sought help from the military police at the barracks.
She was treated at the military aid post at the barracks and referred to Port Moresby General Hospital for medical examination and further treatment.