Justice Panuel Mogish

These innocent victims of crimes committed by their mothers spend up to three years in jail until they are released back into the communities with families.

They eat what is basically served to older inmates – a diet that consists of staple foods. 

The Bomana correctional institute outside the nation's capital is no different.

With a female population of 30, it currently has two toddlers under the age of 3 who are under the care of their convicted mothers.

Justice Panuel Mogish today said the installation of CCTV (Close-Circuit Television) cameras is highly recommended in the age where robberies is now becoming rampant.

“Government, business and individuals should now consider installation of CCTV at appropriate locations to deter crimes.”

He said it is a useful tool not only to deter offenders but also for the purpose of identifying offenders involved in robberies.

Justice Panuel Mogish said their identities are known to the school authorities. None of them were arrested but were terminated after the incident on June 16, 2015.

He made the recommendation today after sentencing 28-year-old James John of Henganofi, Eastern Highlands, to 17 years in jail. He pleaded guilty to rape last year.

Lae, the country’s second biggest city, has seen an increase of armed robbery cases in recent years.

The Lae National Court last week, in sentencing a former employee of the Lae International Hotel to 9 years for armed robbery, made this recommendation.

Justice Panuel Mogish said CCTV can give the best evidence of identification for the prosecution of offenders.

He said it is also timely that such security systems be installed on properties and buildings.

Stanley Poga from Mikin village in Chimbu’s Chuave district was convicted and sentenced to jail on September 28 by Justice George Manuhu at the Waigani National Court.

This was after he assaulted the Director of the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate, Matthew Damaru, on the morning of April 30, 2015.

Since his sentence, he filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against that conviction and sentence on 15th October.

While awaiting that appeal to go for hearing, Poga filed an application in the National Court seeking bail after conviction.

Justice Panuel Mogish said crimes of unlawful use of motor vehicles are on the rise and the penalty must reflect the prevalent offence in society.

Currently the penalty for unlawful use of motor vehicles stands at 5 years in prison.

However, Justice Mogish says there is no use increasing the penalty of armed robbery without raising the penalty of unlawful use of vehicles, as the two offences run together.

The accused, 35-year-old Jeremiah Kundi, briefly appeared today before Justice Panuel Mogish.

He was committed to the National Court for trial on 19 September and is currently on K1000 bail.

Kundi was arrested on information or allegations made by an accomplice involved in the airport robbery of Nov 3, where K1.2m was stolen from Tropicair.

He was charged with robbery on allegations he aided two other accomplice by providing them with a pistol used in the robbery.

The man, from the Eastern Highlands Province, appeared before Justice Panuel Mogish and pleaded guilty.

He was arrested and charged under section 347 (1) of the Criminal Code, for allegedly sexually penetrating another person without her consent near the Mt Diamond Secondary School grounds.

It is alleged he was part of the group of students who were involved in the unconsented sexual penetration of a fellow female student while under the influence of alcohol on June 16, 2015.

This was the warning Justice Panuel Mogish gave in the Waigani National Court when sentencing a youth to life in prison today.

He said it is sickening to come to court and apologise to families of the deceased in the hope of getting a lesser sentence after being found guilty by the court.

Gibson Maraen was found guilty on May 31 over the wilful murder of Wari Kuni, at Nine-Mile in 2015.

Justice Mogish found Maraen guilty for brutally chopping Kuni on his face and head on 10 December 2015, which resulted in his death.

Justice Panuel Mogish is in Lae to assist the crimes court in the Morobe Province with its backlog of cases.

He said unlike the situation in other provinces, detainees awaiting and attending court at Waigani from Bomana have good interaction with the courts regarding their case.

He adjourned all matters listed before him at Waigani this month to July during the call over early this week.

He encouraged those on bail in Port Moresby to return to court next month.