Magistrate orders son to return compo to his mum, warns police

A MAGISTRATE has told police not to use the threat of arrest to force accused people to compensate complainants.
Waigani committal court Magistrate Paul Puri Nii said this last Thursday when refusing an application filed by police to dismiss a case of a 51-year-old woman who was charged with causing grievous bodily harm because compensation had been paid.
He made the decision after Merry Wanpis, from Sumia village in lower Mendi, Southern Highlands, told the court that she had compensated her son Jethro Kengi (complainant) and his family with K5,600 after she was arrested.
“Why did they have you arrested when they want compensation from you?” Magistrate Nii asked Wanpis.
Wanpis said Kengi and his family had threatened her for compensation and had initially demanded K10,000.
Magistrate Nii then ordered the complainant to return the K5,600 to Wanpis in two weeks for the matter to go through the normal court process.
“They arrested you, then made you pay compensation and now they are using this court process as a floor to ask for compensation,” he said.
“Something is not right.
“This is an abuse of process, when someone is in court and the complainant is going around demanding compensation.”
It is alleged that on Nov 27, at about 12.30am at 8-Mile Block, Port Moresby, an argument erupted between Wanpis and Kengi.
Wanpis allegedly threatened to stab Kengi three times.
A relative of Wanpis, Philemon Mondalume then assaulted Kengi by hitting him on the head with two cans of beer.
Kengi fought Mondalume and Wanpis tried to attack him with a knife, injuring his left hand.
Kengi was later taken to Port Moresby General Hospital for treatment.
Wanpis was then arrested and charged with causing grievous bodily harm and was later released on police bail.
The matter returns to court on Aug 2.