K10,000 fine faces men who break protection order: Police

National

POLICE say some people fail to understand the seriousness of the interim protection orders issued by the court to stop domestic violence.
Sergeant Wasima Kauvianda, of the Family Sexual Violence Unit, in Port Moresby, told The National that some men whose wives had served them with the order ignored it.
“Most breach the interim protection orders which is an offence that can (mean) K10,000 in fine or a three-year imprisonment under the Family Protection Act 2013,” he said.
Kauvianda said the order was issued to victims of family violence who sought protection under the law.
“We issue those interim protection orders so that the victim can be protected and the two parties can come up with a workable solution to have their issues sorted out,” he said.
He said it was a document which set out conditions which must be adhered to.
“We only do that when victims of sexual and domestic violence request it,” Kauvianda said.
“They will register them in court and serve them on perpetrators.
The perpetrators can come to court and sort out the issue.”
Domestic violence under the Act includes physical violence, psychological abuse, stalking, damaging property and sexual abuse.
“A breach of the order is K10,000 fine or three years’ imprisonment or both,” Kauvianda said.
“For domestic violence, there is a fine of K5000 and two years’ imprisonment.”