Education never stops for Sgt Hombiku

By ZEDAIAH KANAU
TO Sergeant Simon Hombiku, age is just a number. And he also believes that learning never stops until one is six feet in a coffin underground.
Simon, 52, from Parina village in Yangoru, East Sepik, was among a group of new graduate lawyers admitted to the bar in Port Moresby on Friday, to practise law before the courts.
He has been a police officer for 32 years. Currently he serves as a police prosecutor in the courts.
Simon has been married for 26 years and has four children. His eldest son is in Poland pursuing a Masters in Computer Science degree. His second son is in East Sepik. His daughter is studying at the University of Goroka. The youngest son is in Grade Four.
Simon reached Grade 10 in 1986 at the Yangoru High School in East Sepik. He joined the police force in 1989.
“During my early years, I was part of the mobile squad and served in Bougainville for several years before joining the prosecution directorate in 2000.”

“ I took up studies because I want my children to look up to me as a role model. When they grow older, they will realise that education does not end until one dies.”

“I prosecuted cases in Wewak when I was there. When I came here (Port Moresby) in 2011, I spent time at the Bomana training college before I was transferred to police headquarters to be attached with the prosecutions directorate. I then went to Boroko to be the prosecutor at the Boroko District Court, and the Waigani Committal Court.”
In 2008/2009, he completed a two-year Diploma in Law (prosecutions) at the University of PNG.
His work as a prosecutor pushed him to pursue further law courses.
“We were (often) challenged by lawyers in the courts. So I decided to take up law courses to enhance my knowledge and to be competitive in the courtroom.”
In 2017, he started the Bachelor in Law degree programme. He graduated in 2019. Last year, he was enrolled with those in his group at the Legal Training Institute (LTI) to undergo the prerequisite training course. They completed that two weeks ago before they were admitted to the bar.
“I took up studies because I want my children to look up to me as a role model. When they grow older, they will realise that education does not end until one dies.
“When you’re still alive, you can still pursue education avenues to gain knowledge.”
He hopes his story will inspire other police prosecutors to become qualified lawyers too.
“Every year they will be more lawyers taking up cases. I urge our prosecutors to take up law studies so that they can be competitive in the courtroom to ensure that the people are served well and provided justice.”
He thanks the police department for sponsoring his law studies, his family for supporting him and God for his divine guidance.