State seeks jail terms sought

STATE has asked the court to jail an Italian and three locals who had been involved in a K200 million worth of cocaine (611kg) bust in Port Moresby three years ago to 25 years in prison.
State layer Solomon Kuku, in his submission on sentence at the Waigani National Court before Judge Panuel Mogish, said this was because this case was the first to reach the higher court of the country.
“An offence like this is hard to detect and this may be the first of its kind but it is unlikely to be the last.
“The threat of organised crime to the peace and security of the nation, its community and its broader region, is well recognised,” Kuku said.
He submitted that Carlo D’Attanasio, 52, of Pescara, Italy; Dominic Terupo from Mortlock in Bougainville, Morgan Mogu of Lousom village in Abau, Central and Shane Dikana of Lealea village in Central, were part of a sophisticated scheme of dealing with dangerous drug.
“They all had knowledge that the property is cocaine.
“They may not benefit from their contribution but they were promised to be paid.
“The sentence must serve as a strong warning to potential offenders of both within this country and elsewhere that such offences will not be tolerated,” Kuku said.
He further submitted that there were overwhelming evidence that it was a planned offence involving large amounts of cocaine worth K200 million associated with both expatriates and local people.
Kuku further submitted that cocaine entered PNG territory illegally and breached the PNG Customs Authority and D’Attanasio, Terupo, Mogu, and Dikana benefited from the offence and they involved their families as well.
He said both the PNG police and the Australian Federal Police conducted the investigation.
“Mr D’Attanasio showed no remorse but blames this country for injustice,” he said.