Pay fine or go to jail: Man told

By MALIKAI BALANDU
A MAN who pleaded guilty to three charges of damaging property, assault and stealing was fined by the Lae District Court yesterday.
Magistrate Pious Tapil ordered Hubert Buino, 31, from Angoram’s Maramba village, East Sepik to pay a fine of K500 with K505 compensation on the first charge of damaging property or face 12 months’ imprisonment at Buimo prison.
On the second charge of assault, the court ordered Buino to pay a fine of K300 or do three months in prison.
Tapil ordered Buino to pay K300 for his third charge and refund the victim’s money within a month or be jailed for six months.
The court made the ruling after Buino pleaded guilty to all three charges and asked the court for leniency.
The court noted that Buino was married with three children, unemployed but had no prior convictions.
“Since you have pleaded guilty to all three charges and asked the court for mercy, I will grant it to you by fines, pay all your court fines or be remanded at Buimo. I hope this teaches you a lesson.
“There’s no problem with drinking beer but do so responsibly.”
The court warned Buino that custodial sentences would be cumulative, meaning a failure to pay any of the fines would see him jailed for 21 months.
According to police, on June 3, an allegedly drunk Buino stoned a bus at China Town, breaking its wind screen.
In July last year, Buino assaulted and robbed another man by punching him in the face and taking his waist bag containing K1,200.
Buino was arrested and charged on Tuesday (June 7).