Two men jailed 20 months each for possessing dangerous drug

TWO men have each been sentenced to 20 months in prison for being in possession of a dangerous drug in Lae, Morobe.
Magistrate Pious Tapil told Auno villager Benson Minawo in Lufa, Eastern Highlands, that it was not the first time he had appeared in court. “You were caught at Raikos Market (outside Lae) and that area is the hotspot for other crimes such as stealing and killing,” he said.
He sentenced Minawo to 20 months with hard labour at Buimo prison to show that such crime was increasing and the court had to do its part in imposing deterrent sentences.
Minawo was arrested in Lae on Dec 7 after he was trying to sell seven packets of dried marijuana.
Magistrate Tapil also jailed Joseph James, 20 of Piyau village, Sinesine/Yongomul in Chimbu for 20 months on the same charge.
James was caught by police at the Lae main market trying to sell nine packets of marijuana.
Police monitored him on a close circuit television before arresting him.
Magistrate Tapil told James that the Lae main market should be for selling food and not drugs.
“There is also an increase in petty crimes at the market and vulnerable people like women and girls and the old and weak are being harassed by people like you,” he said.