Lawyer seeks 149 years for four men for kidnapping family

A STATE Lawyer has asked a court to impose a total sentence of 149 years’ imprisonment for four men who were convicted for kidnapping a family of 13 for ransom in 2009 at their residence in Port Moresby.
Lawyer Solomon Kuku from the Public Prosecutor’s Office made the submission yesterday before Justice Panuel Mogish in the Bomana National Court.
“Due to the gravity of these offences, the prevalence and the need for deterrence of such offences in our jurisdiction, punitive sentences must be given,” Kuku said.
Defendants Ronald Wafiaha, Roger Bae Nimbituo, Jeffrey Wosi and Gilbert Guarri were convicted on the charges of impersonation, deprivation of liberty (13 counts each) and kidnapping for ransom.
Guarri and Wosi were also convicted of one count and two counts of rape respectively.
Kuku submitted that Wafiaha and Nimbituo each serve a concurrent sentence of 26 years in prison.
He then called for a cumulative sentence for Wosi and Guarri considering the rape charge.
Kuku submitted that Wosi be sentenced to 56 years in jail and Guarri to 41 years in jail.
The men’s lawyer asked for the court’s indulgence and mercy in handing down decision on sentencing.
He submitted that while multiple victims were involved in the commission of the offence, it was for a single purpose or it occurred in one transaction so the sentences for the men should be served concurrently considering the totality principle.
He submitted for a concurrent sentence of 10 years for the men and asked the court to consider deducting time spent in custody.
Three of the men were remanded while Guarri failed to appear in court again.
A fifth convicted member Jacob Wapai is still at large.
Justice Mogish will rule on sentence next Friday.
On May 17, 2009, at about 7pm, a group of men, some dressed as police officers, drove into the property of the victims at Rainbow in Port Moresby.
They told the victims that they were there to take them to the Badili Police Station.
Thirteen of the victims were cramped in a white double cab vehicle.
Two of the male victims were dropped off at Morata while the rest of the family (victims) were driven to 9-Mile outside Port Moresby where they negotiated for ransom.
A female victim was taken to 6-Mile (Gaure Cresant) where she was raped and then taken to 8-Mile settlement where she was locked up and raped again.