Judge: PNG a lawless state

 By ADRIAN MATHIAS

PAPUA New Guinea is becoming a lawless state, Deputy Chief Justice Gibbs Salika said during an armed robbery trial in the National Court at Waigani yesterday.

Evidence given in court by a female employee of a security firm in Port Moresby prompted Salika to state that lawless and careless attitudes were the norm in the country.

The woman, who gave her evidence as state witness in relation to an armed hold-up and robbery on Sept 12, 2011, involving K1,451, 396.54, said they drove out of their base with the money without an escort when they were held-up and robbed by an armed gang.

She said that prior to being held-up and robbed along Frangipani Street in Hohola, behind the Bishop Brothers premises, the driver of the vehicle did not stop to give way when traffic lights turned red on the route they were taking.

“Instead, they drove past it and just a minute after they arrived at Frangipani Street, two vehicles came by and blocked them from back and in front,” the court heard.

They were ordered out by the armed men who subsequently got the money and escaped. 

Salika said breaking simple rules like traffic rules “speaks volumes about the type of people we are”. 

On the question of why they drove out of the base without an escort vehicle, the judge remarked: “Just taking a joy ride? I go. You catch me later. What kind of security firm are you? Do you know that you are transporting people’s money?”