Three years for robbery

A MAN was sentenced to three years imprisonment with hard labour at the Waigani National Court yesterday for robbing another man at the Unagi Oval bus stop at Gordon, Port Moresby.
Justice Jim Wala Tamate said such offences were becoming prevalent at public places before sentencing John Meme, 23, from Kindeng village in Anglim-South Waghi, Jiwaka.
Justice Tamate said many people who went to catch buses at the bus stop had been robbed and attacked by people like Meme and the court would give sentences that deterred people from committing such offences.
However, the court took into consideration that the stolen items were retrieved by police and Meme did not benefit from the crime when deciding on his sentence.
Justice Tamate said Meme could have received a sentence of six years or more but because he pleaded guilty and had cooperated with police, his sentenced was reduced.
Justice Tamate said Meme’s family would suffer because of his actions and he would learn his lesson in jail not to commit any more offences.
Justice Tamate deducted one year and 11 days spent in custody and suspended a year from the balance of his sentence. Meme will serve only 11 months and 19 days at the Bomana Correctional Institute.
Meme was part of a four-man gang that threatened Martin Bana with a large knife before taking his valuables, including a mobile phone worth K399 on Aug 30 last year.
A police vehicle on patrol was able to arrest Meme at the bus stop.