Legal eagles told to stand firm against violence, corruption

A NATIONAL Court judge has urged members of the legal fraternity in East New Britain to stand firm against violent crime and corruption.
Justice Terrence Higgins said this at the 2018 legal year opening at Kenabot United Church in Kokopo on Friday.
“Two major problems which this country faces are violent crimes and corruption,” he said.
“All of us stand in the foreground of the system which prevents that, and tries to ensure that it doesn’t happen or if it does, it is severely punished.
“It is not just the fact that those activities are against the law but it seriously damages the reputation of this country.
“For that very reason, the courts and police, (and) corrective services must stand firm against such conduct.”
Higgins said there was an obligation imposed both by humanity and the Constitution to respect rights of everyone including those accused of crime.
“For that reason, those who are suspected of crime are protected to a certain extent, and that extent must be respected,” he said.
“It is called the rule-of-law and applies to everyone.
“Let us look forward to 2018 because we do have an important role to play.”