Public drinking lands man in court

By HEZRON KISING
A LAE City Authority employee was fined K400 in default three months jail for drinking and disorderly behaviour in public.
Lae District Court magistrate Tera Dawai found Bruse Lucas, 23, from East Sepik’s Maprik, guilty of the two charges last week.
Dawai heard that Lucas was drinking beer in Lae’s main market area bus-stop and behaving disorderly when policemen on crime prevention foot patrol arrested him.
Lucas was then taken to market police station where he was charged with drinking in public and disorderly behaviour.
In his oral submission, Lucas expressed remorse and asked the court to have mercy on him and impose a lighter penalty.
“As the only one working and the sole breadwinner for my child and my family, I know that it will be hard for them if I am in prison,” he pleaded.
“The court has taken into consideration that you have a son and your family relies on you,” Dawai said.
“Also, you are a first time offender.
“You are, therefore, fined K400, and if you don’t pay, you will have to serve three months in prison.”