Justice delayed is justice denied, judge tells officer

National

By JIMMY KALEBE
LAE District Court magistrate Edward Kupo says delaying of justice is denial of justice for another person.
He said yesterday that those in police custody, or awaiting their court appearances in prisons, should be processed early so that justice was served in time.
Kupo made these comments after an arresting officer of a suspect of a murder case had not been attending to the suspect for interviews over the past four months.
The death occurred at Banana Block in Lae on Oct 27 last year when the suspect allegedly hit his victim with an iron rod.
The victim died five days later in hospital. The court was told by defendant Rex Kaware, 40, of Waigai village in Ialibu, Southern Highlands, that he had been on remand at Buimo prison since November last year but had not once been interviewed by the police officer who arrested him.
Magistrate Kupo said the case was more than three months old now.
He adjourned it for the last time to allow for the arresting officer to provide more information.
The case was adjourned to April 8 for mention.
In a separate case, Kupo told Ernest Joe, 18, from Bogia in Madang, that it was wrong to have sex with a girl under 18, even if the sex was consensual.
Joe is accused of having sex with a 14-year-old grade 7 schoolgirl at a settlement in Lae in November.
He said under the law, to have sex with anyone under the age of 18 despite their consent, was wrongand against the law.
“Even in marriage, when the wife says ‘no’ to have sex but the husband insisted on having it, it is still wrong,” Kupo said.
He said once there was consent sought from the victim, then the court would have to verify by examining the victim if the age given was correct.
Kupo adjourned the case to next Monday.