Provide submission on law: Court

By SCHOLAR KASSAS
A MAGISTRATE has ordered parties involved in the drug case concerning Sanctuary Hotel operations manager Jamie Pang to provide submission on the recently amended Dangerous Drug Act.
Magistrate Garry Unjo said on Friday that he needed to be well versed with what had been added before the court and requested additional supplementary submissions from the defence and prosecution to assist the court in short time.
Defence lawyer Simon Nutley informed the court that the amended Section (3) of the Dangerous Drug Act had increased the penalty years and fine.
“I’m not suggesting that prosecutions are pushing for greater penalty because it will breach the Section 37 (7) of the Constitution,” Nutley said.
Prosecutor Sandra Holland told the court that a supplementary submission should be served to her early so she would have time to respond before the adjournment date.
Nutley then told court that the file would be served to the prosecution today for prosecution.
Unjo then adjourned the matter to today (Jan 24) for the submission and extended Pang’s bail.
Police alleged that on Nov 16, 2021 Pang was at the hotel when Police and PNG Customs officers participating in a joint special operation codenamed “Saki Bomb” conducted a raid with a search warrant on the hotel premises.
It was alleged that the search was conducted on targeted areas inside the hotel premises where they found a laboratory, in room number 314.
Pang was then charged with being in possession of and making dangerous drugs.