University student fined for carrying homemade gun

By MALIKAI BALANDU
A Lae District Court has fined a 25-year-old student charged with being in possession of a homemade gun on Monday.
Magistrate Jacinta Doa ordered Valentine Simbawi, from Wewak’s Tumara village in East Sepik to pay a court fine of K1, 000 or, if not, three months imprisonment with light labour at Buimo for being in possession of a six-round revolver homemade pistol constructed from a stapler gun.
The court made the ruling after Simbawi pleaded guilty and asked the court for leniency.
Magistrate Doa warned Simbawi saying since he pleaded guilty and asked the court for mercy, and as a final year student at the University of Technology with no prior conviction, she would be lenient.
“I have considered that you are a first time offender, a final-year student at Unitech, and that you have showed remorse before this court, therefore you’ll pay a penalty fine of K1, 000 or, if not, three months imprisonment” she said.
“You are on the verge of completing your studies, you have no business carrying a homemade gun around as an educated elite.
“You are expected to set an example and be a role model to the younger ones, I expect better from you, and let this be a warning.”
The court heard that on June 17 around 2pm, Simbawi was about to enter Unitech’s main gate during its 54th graduation ceremony when a Uniforce security officer spotted him looking suspicious and searched him at the gate’s entrance and discovered the homemade stapler gun inside his shopping bag.