Student jailed for nine months

 By JUNIOR UKAHA

A STUDENT was jailed for nine months for being in possession of marijuana in Lae last Friday.

Terry Luke, who claims to be a Grade 11 student at the Bumayong Secondary School, was jailed by Lae District Court Magistrate Nasaling Bingtau who told him that he was a student and should not be carrying drugs around.

Luke admitted the offence but requested a lighter punishment saying he needed to continue his studies.

But Bingtau said: “You did not think of your studies when you had the marijuana in your possession in the first place. You think the court will listen to you now?”

The court heard that around 3.30pm last Tuesday, Luke and his friends were smoking marijuana at the East Taraka market when they saw police approaching.

Luke tried to escape but was caught and searched.

Dried marijuana rolls were discovered in his jacket.

Bingtau told him to change his ways after completing his jail term.

In another case, a woman from Lufa in Eastern Highlands was also jailed for nine months for the same offence.

Rebecca Wayamo was found guilty of having rolls of dried marijuana in her bilum.

The court heard that on May 8, around 10am, she and others were at 4-Mile outside Lae when police on a routine patrol searched them.

Bingtau told her: “You are a mother. 

“Don’t act like men and do silly things.”