Magistrate challenges police

A WESTERN Highlands magistrate has called on police personnel to perform their roles competently and efficiently in order for justice to be served.
Mt Hagen District Court Senior Magistrate Betty Jacobs said police needed to compile evidence, have witnesses ready to present in court at the appointed time to avoid delaying the court’s time and to allow proceedings to continue.
She said making arrests and laying charges was only the first step.
Magistrate Jacobs said this yesterday after dismissing a case against a 15-year-old boy who was arrested last December by police in relation to the armed robbery of goods worth more than K40,000 belonging to a company.
The boy, who is in grade seven at a primary school in Mt Hagen, was arrested and charged but police had not provided a witness or evidence which prolonged the case.
Magistrate Jacobs said the court could not keep adjourning the case as police had ample time to build their case.
She said while the complainant had a right to seek justice, the police were the ones who needed to do their part.
Magistrate Jacobs said the suspect had also been denied justice as the case had not progressed.