Man, 22, fined K300 for drinking homebrew in public place

HEZRON KISING
THE Lae District Court has ordered a man to pay a fine of K300 for consuming home-brew or paiawara during New Year’s celebrations in a public place.
Magistrate Tera Dawai told David Maaore, 22, from Kerema in Gulf that, as an educated person, he should have known the risks of drinking alcohol.
“We’ve read, heard and saw news of people causing a lot of problems as a result of consuming (drinking) home-brew which is illegal by law,”
Dawai said. “The law applies to everyone including police, magistrates, judges, pastors, bus drivers, betel nut vendors and farmers.”
The court took into consideration that Maaore was a first-time offender, the only employed member of his family, pleaded his guilt and expressed remorse. Maaore asked the court for lenience as he had a family to look after.
Dawai ordered Maaore to pay a fine of K300 or face a six-month jail term. Police reports provided by prosecutor Sr Sgt Albert Sakarias indicated that on New year’s day, a police patrol unit spotted Maaore at a street in China Town.
When police stopped him and conducted a search, a 500ml water container containing home-brew was found on him. He was then apprehended and taken to China Town Police Station and detained.