Father-of-two awaiting sentence for drug trafficking

PROSECUTION will today recommend a fine of K26,000 or jail term of 16 years or life for a 27-year-old man for trafficking marijuana from Gulf to Port Moresby.
The stiff penalty comes under the new Dangerous Drug Act 2021 amended recently and Joel Koepai from Rerapoi village, Waria, Morobe, is one of the first to feel its wrath.
Koepai pleaded guilty to trafficking 2.5kg of marijuana on Feb 1 and Magistrate Albert Daniels said the Waigani district court would be making a ruling today after considering submissions from the prosecution.
“Since the defendant had pleaded guilty as charged, the court will make its ruling tomorrow by imposing relevant penalties and punishment for the offence,” he said.
Koepai told the court that it was true that the marijuana belonged to him and he was smuggling it to pay for his two children’s school fees and clothes. “I come from a village in Waria which has no development, so I smuggled the drugs to sell and earn money to meet the needs of my two children,” he told the court.
“I am truly sorry for my actions and seek the court’s mercy as I am a first-time offender.”
Police Prosecutor Joseph Sangam said life can be hard but resorting to sell dangerous drug to earn a living is not right as it was against the law as stated in the new amended Dangerous Drug Act 2021.
Sangam also tendered the bag containing the drug to the court as exhibit.
It was alleged that on Feb 1 at around 9am, police officers from Crimes Division, National Drugs and Vice Squad, received a phone call from a reliable source informing them about the drug trafficking movements.
Koepai was arrested and taken to Waigani Police Station.