Foreigner brings gun to court

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Tuesday November 5th, 2013

 By JUNIOR UKAHA

AN expatriate man, who had a loaded gun in his possession in a court room, was taken in for questioning by police yesterday.

Julian King, an Australian, had a loaded pistol in his handbag when he came into court room three at the Lae District Court without undergoing a security clearance check.

He was apprehended by the court’s security guards at about 10am following a tip-off.

King, the owner of Island Arc Gold Ltd, was at the court house to hear a ruling on his case regarding his business operation in the country. 

The gun, a Magnum pistol, was loaded with 15-rounds, court officials said.

He had extra ammunition in his bag, police said. 

The discovery of the gun shocked presiding magistrate Nasaling Bingtau, lawyer Warren Kumei, police prosecutors and members of the public in the courtroom.  

Lae metro police commander Iven Lakatani confirmed the incident but said King was not charged by police.

“His gun was a licensed gun,” Lakatani said.

“The only problem was that he had brought it into a court room without informing the guards.

“His action was against the court’s administrative procedures,” Lakatani said. 

Lakatani said King had no intention of using the weapon on anyone in the courtroom. 

“I am keeping the gun and he can reclaim it after completing his other cases pending in court,” Lakatani said. 

Bingtau later sentenced King to 12 months in prison for disobeying court orders and abusing court processes.

The jail term was given in relation to an on-going court battle between King and his former business partner, Malcolm Richards Ginger. 

Ginger had taken King to court for breach of contract and for ownership issues regarding the operation of Island Arc Gold Ltd.