Acting Judge David Susame

Acting Judge David Susame, in sentencing Joe NgotNgot, Eric John, David Haro and Jack Bemu, said a punitive sentence must be passed in an effort to remind police officers to discharge their policing duties within the confines of the law they have sworn to uphold.

Police brutality resulting in deaths is becoming quite prevalent in PNG, says Acting Judge David Susame at the Kokopo National Court today.

Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia made this known after the swearing in ceremony of one judge and four acting judges at the Government house today.

With the new judges sworn in, he said the judiciary is confident it will comfortably address the backlog of cases and hopes to dispose Election Petition cases by June next year. 

Among those sworn in today was the former Public Solicitor and a committal court magistrate.

Former Public Solicitor and now Justice Jim Wala Tamate will remain at Waigani. He will assist Justice David Cannings in the Human Rights track.