Fines set out for owning sex items

THE Censorship Board has imposed a fine of K1000 on individuals and K5000 on corporate organisations if they are found with imported sex items, images and videos in mobile phones.
The censorship Board Act 1989 allows imposition of such penalties.
Board mass media and programme manager Robroy Chicki said failure to pay the fines would lead to jailing.
Chicki said there had been many cases of people being in possession of such imported items.
Such offenders would face the law when they get caught.
Enforcement officer Richard Tabel said they recently caught a local in possesion of 33 sex items.
They verbally warned and released him because he was a first-time offender.
Chicki said there were many such cases since 1989.
In 2014, Censorship burnt more than 30,000 pornography images and videos from students. The board works closely with police and PNG Customs to track down individuals involved in such practices.
Meanwhile, the Government will impose a new law allowing for K10,000 to K50,000 fines on individuals found with imported sex-enhancement products.
Chicki said the old Censorship Act of 1989 was only looking at items coming through post offices, airports and ships.
Today’s technology allows pornographic videos and images to be downloaded from the internet.
The act was reviewed in 2014.
The new online bill is still in process. Chicki said it would give access to officers to go into the internet and filter certain information.
He said freedom of information would not be suppressed but only pornography.
Chicki said the Government should support the board through funds.