‘Juveniles must stay with parents’

JUVENILES accused of committing crimes should not be kept in custody but released to their parents who should guide them and ensure they follow the court process, a court was told yesterday.
The matter was emphasised in the Waigani committal court when a 16-year-old schoolboy accused of assaulting a man in Port Moresby and stealing his phone turned up in court without any proof of bail.
Magistrate Paul Nii had inquired about the juvenile’s bail to Police Prosecutor Sgt Joseph Sangam. The juvenile told them that he was not kept in custody but was released to his parents.
Sgt Sangam then told the court of the directions regarding juveniles.
“There has been some directions that juveniles should not be kept in custody and that they should be released to their parents,” he said.
“And parents are to ensure that they (juveniles) attend court at all times,” Sgt Sangam said.
The juvenile, of mixed parentage – East New Britain and Chimbu – was alleged to have assaulted the man before taking off with his Samsung A11 phone valued at K800 at 6-Mile, Saraga Street in Port Moresby on July 23.
The case was adjourned to Sept 23 while the juvenile remains with his parents.