Grade Nine student jailed

 By JUNIOR UKAHA

A MAGISTRATE warned yesterday the courts will discipline students if schools failed in that responsibility.

Lae district court magistrate Nasaling Bingtau made the comment while sentencing Grade Nine student Elijah Grick to three years in prison for drinking in public and for being in possession of homebrew and marijuana.

Grick, from Yongumugl, Chimbu, told the court he was a student at BenaBena Secondary School, in Eastern Highlands.

Police alleged they found a roll of marijuana and a bottle of steam (home-brewed alcohol) in Grick’s possession.

Police told the court that Grick was under the influence of alcohol and was threatening a pregnant woman to give him some money.

The incident happened during the Morobe Show on Oct 20, near the Lae showground at Eriku.

The court heard a police patrol unit spotted the accused and arrested him. 

Grick pleaded guilty to the offence and asked the court if he could be fined for his offences. 

But Bingtau refused saying: “Many students are causing problems so the court will be tough.

“When you go to prison, you must pray so that God will change you so that you come out a better person.”