K10,000 fines or prison for 2 men

TWO men are facing a court fine of K10, 000 or two years prison sentence for possessing 10kg of cannabis.
Senior magistrate Samson Tatakali ruled yesterday in a District Court in Waigani, Port Moresby, that Justin Awui, 22, and Rocky Andy, 23, both from Tapini’s Erai village, Goilala in Central be sentenced to two years or pay a fine of K10, 000.
“You have to pay the fine or serve two years in Bomana Prison,” he told the duo.
Police prosecutor Constable Azariah Tau informed the court that Members of the National Drug and Vice Squad (NDVS) had located the 10kg of a cannabis and tendered it in court.
“As per the article by The National newspaper on Tuesday regarding the magistrate questioning the whereabouts of the 10kg cannabis exhibits.
“The NDVS members have located the exhibits and have tendered it in court today for the court to examine and hand down a decision on penalty,” he said.
However, magistrate Tatakali said he was earlier ready to hand down a decision since there was no exhibits to be tendered in court for two months since the two men had pleaded guilty as charged.
It was alleged that on June 18, at Banana Block Gorobe Settlement in National Capital District, Awui was carrying a 10kg rice bag containing 6.8kg of cannabis and Andy was carrying a 4kg of cannabis when police caught them.
They were arrested and charged with one count each of possession of cannabis.