Jail overcrowding leads to K1,000 fine for father of two

By HEZRON KISING
A 32-YEAR-old man was jailed six months by the Lae District Court after pleading guilty to being in possession of brewing equipment and homebrew.
The magistrate eventually ruled that he pay a K1,000 fine because of overcrowding in prison.
Willie Jim, a father of two from Pindiu in Finschhafen, Morobe, appeared before Magistrate Tera Dawai and pleaded guilty for having three 20 litre containers, a one-litre container and 15 500ml containers of the illicit spirit in his possession.
Magistrate Dawai told Jim that the quantity of illicit spirits he had was substantial and the consumption would add to social problems such as ethnic clashes, stealing, robberies and even killings. Jim admitted to the offence and asked the court for mercy.
He said he was unemployed and was producing the homebrew to earn money to take care of his family.
Police prosecutor Sgt Vincent Suakai submitted for a maximum penalty to be imposed on the accused since the quantity of the homebrew found was large.
Magistrate Dawai said because of the current situation caused by the Covid-19, police cells were crowded and Buimo Correctional Services was strict on receiving new offenders due to over-crowding and health measures.
He ordered Jim to pay a K1,000 court fine or do six months of community work every Wednesday from 8am to 4pm at Lae Central Police Station under supervisions of the officer in charge of the police cell and Criminal Investigation Division (CID) drug squad boss. Magistrate Dawai said failure to comply would result in a jail term of 12 months.
On May 29 around 4am at Poaba settlement, Wabag St, police CID drug squad officers got tipped that Jim was producing and selling homebrew.
Police conducted a search and found the brewing equipment and containers of homebrew.