K2,500 fine for illegal crossing

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
SEVEN Indonesians were fined K2,500 each in default six months jail after they pleaded guilty in the Kiunga district court to illegally entering Papua New Guinea (PNG) via the Western border.
North Fly commander Chief Insp Silva Sika said the Indonesians were charged under Section 16 (1) (a) of the Migration Act.
“They will; be detained in the Kiunga Police Station lock-up until they settled their fine,” he said.
Chief Insp Sika said he had spoken to the Indonesian Consul-General’s office in Vanimo and “I am working with them to ensure we have the seven men repatriated to Indonesia only after they have paid their fine”.
“All seven have undergone their Covid-19 test and are adhering to the pandemic measures in the district,” he said.
“They entered PNG illegally on March 29, on the pretense of alluvial mining.
“After their arrival, they set up camp at the Ningerum LLG for a couple of days before police were alerted of their presence.
“The men crossed into Ningerum on March 29, bringing along for alluvial mining activities down the river from the Ok Tedi mine.”
Chief Insp Sika said a police team was sent to arrest the Indonesians for questioning and then charged.
He urged border villagers not to entertain illegal border crossers because “it is against our law and the country’s coronavirus (Covid-19 protocol measures”).