Man warned to change

A Tari man, who had his jail term wholly suspended on Friday by the Waigani National Court, was warned to change for the better and not to return to court.

Thomas Warepa, was convicted for causing grievous bodily harm to his uncle, Kelo Kewaki, after he ripped off his testicles, at the family home at Erima, Port Moresby, on June 25 last year.

He came home drunk that night, and fell asleep in a room of the house where he wasn’t supposed to.

His sister-in-law, mistook him for an intruder, and alarmed other relatives to have him removed.

He woke up after he was assaulted by Kewaki, grabbing his testicles.

Justice Ipang said he had no bad intention, however customarily, it was not right for men to sleep in the same area with women.

Compensation of K14,000 was paid to Kewaki while Warepa was at Bomana awaiting his trial.

Hela Residential judge, Justice Martin Ipang sentenced Warepa to three years in prison, after considering all the circumstance surrounding the attack.

Having spent one year and four months in remand awaiting trial, Warepa was left with one year, eight months to serve.

The judge wholly suspended that remaining term, placing him on two years good behavior bond, but did not let him go without warning him.

“When can we change? Taris back at home, blame you (people) in Port Moresby for spoiling the good name.

“Settle down and make a life for yourself. No bighead. Don’t even come back to court,” Justice Ipang told Warepa.

Author: 
Sally Pokiton