Husband, wife bag degrees

By ZINA KOIM
POLICE prosecutor Roman Sakan has advanced his qualifications in his career, this time graduating with a Diploma in Law from the University of Papua New Guinea.
From Wapenamanda’s Yaibos village in Enga, it was double celebrations for Sakan as his wife, Priscilla Kundakali, who also graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and Critical Care Emergencies last week from the university’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Sakan said the challenges faced in his career as a police officer prompted him to further his qualifications.
He wanted to offer the best savvy to his profession and, to do that, Sakan had to further his education.
“When prosecuting criminal cases before courts, I faced a lot of challenges in law, especially when competent lawyers with advanced legal background would front up and file submissions and bail applications for their clients.
“It was my job to argue on the validity of these submissions, and if it was proper that the courts should entertain these applications.
“It was also mandatory that matters before courts are completed, filed and served if and when the courts say so.
“There is much more to being a police prosecutor.
“These considerations motivated me to take up law courses at UPNG to assist me indict my cases,” Sakan said.
He had served in Mendi, Southern Highlands, for the 11 years as a police prosecutor after graduating from the Bomana Police College.
It wasn’t an easy road for Sakan. After completing his secondary education in 2008 at Kopen, Enga, he was accepted and did science foundation courses at UPNG. After a year, he withdrew from university studies and worked as a security guard to support his siblings.
“In the city, Port Moresby, life was hard,” he said.
“I sought accommodation among family friends and relatives, but I did survive.”
But the following year, an opening came when the police recruitment was rolled out. Sakan applied and was accepted and underwent six months of training in 2011.
“In 2012, I passed out from the Bomana Police College and was posted to Mendi as a probationary constable,” he said.
“In Mendi, I joined the prosecution unit and started dealing with cases before the Mendi District Court.”
In 2018, Sakan applied to do a Diploma in Law Prosecution at UPNG and was accepted. However, work commitments and requirements forced him out again.
“I had to withdraw from studies and return to Mendi because my bosses had sent a minute (letter) saying that if I don’t return to work, I would be put off the payroll.”
In 2021, he made up his mind and return to the UPNG Law School to complete his studies.
“I sacrificed, and my wife Priscilla Kundakali was always there by my side, looking after our children and taking care of our home,” Sakan said.
“I was focused and juggled between my studies and my job as a police officer.
“Despite the overwhelming workload and responsibilities, I pressed on, driven by my dream of earning my diploma in law.”
Now that Sakan had realised his dream for a university degree, his time in classrooms, however, has not ended.
Last year, Sakan was selected to undergo the officer cadet training programme at the National Center of Excellence, a three-year program at the Bomana Police College, and that is what he is focusing on now.