Level of English in police reports confusing

 By Douglas Deseng
A DISTRICT court magistrate has raised concern over the level of written English in police reports.
Boroko District Court Magistrate Alex Kalandi told the court that some of the language used when presenting facts were not clear and were confusing.
Kalandi said that made the work of the courts in determining charges for offences difficult.
He raised the issue in court when granting a correct application by a police prosecutor to Peter Supi, 21, from Jiwaka, who was charged with possession of drugs (marijuana).
Supi, according to the police reports, was charged under Section 3.1(d) of the Summary Offences Act which the court found to be a wrong provision for the defendant to be charged under.
In granting the correct provision application by the police prosecutor, Supi was charged under Section 3.1(d) of Dangerous Drugs Act.
The court was told that on June 19 at about 7.25pm, the accused who resides at 3-Mile compound was at the 3-Mile bus stop, at which police officers from Badili station were also on patrol there.
Kalandi told the court that when the defendant saw the police he acted suspiciously.
The court was told that the police officers apprehended the accused and confiscated 21 packs of rolled marijuana from him.
The case was adjourned to Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the court also adjourned a case against Justin Kilei to Monday because the arresting officer failed to turn up for hearing. Kilei was charged with possession of drugs.