Drug smuggler fined K7,000, jailed 2yrs

A FATHER of one was fined K7,000 and sentenced to two years in Buimo prison on Friday for being in possession of a large amount of marijuana.
Lae District Court magistrate Isaac Tjipet convicted Jimmy Sukua, 28, from Baliau village in Bogia, Madang, fined him and jailed him for possession of 21.5 kg of drug.
The court noted that on May 11, police prosecutor Maureen Pohei had objected to Sukua’s bail application as he was not a permanent resident of Lae.
The court heard that on May 2, Sukua was caught carrying a bag filled with the drug by guards at the PNG Ports passenger terminal in Lae, Morobe.
Sukua tried to walk through a security checkpoint without having his bag checked and this had aroused the guards’ suspicion who held him and checked his bag, discovering the marijuana.
The court noted that Sukua had tried to bribe the guard with K200 cash and also promised him more money if he was allowed to pass through.
Sukua had also tried to pass the bag off as belonging to another passenger and that he was only helping them with.