University students who had their case struck out by the Wewak District Court can be re-arrested says East Sepik police boss Peter Philips.
The University of Papua New Guinea and University of Technology students, including some high school students and parents were on route to Wewak CBD to conduct their awareness when they were arrested on Monday by local police.
The 18 people turned up for mention and the presiding magistrate struck out their case on Thursday because of lack of evidence.
“The case was struck out not dismissed, and the file is back with the arresting officer and they can be re-arrested,” PPC Philips told Loop PNG.
They were charged for unlawful assembly, but the provincial police boss said they can be re-arrested and charged under the, “Peace and Good Order Act”.
Philips said the students did not give him seven days’ notice to do the awareness and that is why they were arrested.
He added that there is no Peace and Good Order Committee in Wewak to preside over the awareness letter and as the custodian of law he must make a decision based on the overall interest of the province.
“I cannot compromise, and I do not want what happened in Enga to happen in Wewak.”
But the East Sepik Tertiary Student Union president Newton Savi told Loop PNG that "When we rewrote the letter, the PPC was nowhere to be found. We were looking for him since Thursday last week."
Meanwhile, the students are seeking legal opinion with their lawyer to sue the State.
Caption: Relieved students after their Court hearing. Picture source: Donus Winga.