Leader guilty of setting house on fire

 THE National Court in Lae has found a community leader guilty of burning down a woman’s house.

Justice Sao Gabi said he was convinced that Leo Kataro was involved in the burning down of the house. 

He will be sentenced next month after the court considers the cost assessment report and others.

The court heard that on Dec 25, 2008, at about 1.30pm, Kataro, a community leader at the 1-Mile settlement “wilfully and unlawfully set fire to the dwelling house of Lenas John” at Kapiak Street, Boundary Road, Lae.

The court heard that Kataro had mobilised a group of 

men  armed with bush knives, sticks and stones and marched to John’s home.

Kataro threatened John with a bush knife before setting her two-storey, five-bedroom house on fire.

Five other people living with John and her family lost all their belongings in the fire. 

Kataro had denied the offence. But Justice Gabi said “the elements of the offence are clear, the accused wilfully and unlawfully set fire to the dwelling house”.

Gabi said he believed the state witnesses to be truthful.

“I cannot say that for the accused and do not consider him to be a credible witness. 

“He did not give evidence in court but made a statement from the dock. The statement does not carry a great deal of weight,” Gabi said.