Locals’ treatment ‘unfair’

By JIMMY KALEBE
LAE District Court magistrate Tera Dawai is concerned with the way some local employees working for foreign companies are being treated at the work place.
“Some citizens were being treated unfairly or unlawfully in some cases.
“The treatment given is not allowed under the Constitution,” the magistrate said.
He said this when dismissing a case against Joe Bito, 36, of Mauobo village, Talasia, in West New Britain, who was charged with stealing and resisting police arrest.
Police had stated that Bito was employed by the China Railway International (CRI) and on July 12.
He was caught by the security guards guarding CRI gate at Yalu outside Lae trying to steal a carton of biscuits.
The court also heard that when police went to get him for an interview, Bito allegedly escaped until his arrest on July 30 when he was charged.
Bito told the court that he did not mean to steal. But he done it out of frustration over his boss (a foreigner) throwing his lunch (a packet of biscuits) into a drain that contained water and oil and then instructed him to pick it up and eat it.
“I have dealt with such cases and this is not right under the Constitution of this country for foreigners to treat the nationals this way,” magistrate Dawai said.
“We are all subjected to the same laws of this country and there is no separate laws for foreigners.
“I entered plea of guilty for both charges against you , but due to circumstances surrounding the case (especially the treatment given by the boss at the first place), I am dismissing these charges and will set you free.”
Magistrate Dawai said it was about time the Government changed laws governing foreigners working in the country to make them respect the people and the Constitution.
He added that despite those foreign companies helping to develop the country, they had to abide by the laws of the country at all times.