Teen fined for part in robbery

A 17-YEAR-OLD youth charged with assault and stealing a phone valued at K1,000 was fined K600 by a court in Lae on Wednesday.
Lae District Court Magistrate Isaac Tjipet told defendant Thomas Peter from Dua village in Kerowagi, Chimbu, that failure to pay the fine would result in six months imprisonment at Buimo prison.
The court noted that Peter was a first-time offender and had asked the court for leniency.
Peter was fined K300 for each charge.
Tjipet told Peter he had broken the law and while his sentence was a fine he would be treated more harshly if he reoffended.
The court heard that Peter and an accomplice robbed complainant Tyron Augustine at Lae Main Market bus stop on July 1.
Peter had distracted Augustine by grabbing and shaking his hand while his accomplice took the phone from the complainant’s trouser pocket before fleeing.
Augustine realised what had happened soon after and pursued Peter’s accomplice and retrieved his phone.
A passing police officer on foot patrol intervened and arrested Peter.