Man asks court for leniency

A MAN who posted threats against Prime Minister James Marape has asked the court to suspend any jail term imposed on him considering the time he has already spent in custody.
Lawyer Bernard Popeu from the Public Solicitor’s Office submitted that Domenic Aku Jason of Daulo, Eastern Highlands, had been in custody on charges of murder and armed robbery since Oct, 11, 2017, and posted the threat while in custody.
“We submit an appropriate sentence of three years imprisonment in relation to his cyber harassment charge and ask the Court’s discretion to suspend it due to the time Aku has spent in custody,” Popeu said.
Popeu said Aku had spent four years, six months and three weeks in custody as a remandee and that had already exceeded the appropriate jail term for the cyber harassment charge.
He told the court that Aku’s proceedings on the murder and armed robbery charges were quashed by the National Court in 2020 and 2021 respectively and only the cyber harassment charge against him was pending. He posted: “PMJM, you need to step down a.s.a.p before bullet penetrates your head” on his Facebook account name Nicky Jason on the “Team O’Neill – Work Mas Go Yet” page and this was made known to Marape by third parties.
Popeu said, according to Marape’s evidence in court, the prime minister did not suffer any injuries or emotional distress from the post.
“Also Jason was in custody when he posted the comment and did not state clearly whether himself or anyone else would penetrate Marape’s head with the bullet,” he said.
Popeu said Jason had admitted posting the threatening comment and had expressed remorse for his actions.
The matter returns on Friday for a ruling on the sentence.