Criminal Code Act

The amendments, currently being drafted by the Minister for Internal Security, MP Peter Tsiamalili Jr and Commissioner of Police, David Manning, seek to empower law enforcement agencies with increased capabilities to tackle domestic terrorist activities.

The proposed amendments to the Criminal Code Act are part of Papua New Guinea's efforts to confront the growing threat posed by domestic terrorism. Establish penalties for these offenses, and grant explicit powers for investigating and responding to such acts.

Morgan Mogu and Dominic Terupo through their lawyer Bernard Popeu submitted before Magistrate Alex Kalandi that the charges laid against the two is inappropriate.

The duo are being charged with money laundering and terrorist financing under the Criminal Code Act and Money Laundering Financial Act 2015 section 508.

Their lawyer said that the charge of money laundering is inappropriate.

He instead argued that this is a simple case of possession of “dangerous drugs”.

In clarifying his role in relation to handling high profile cases, Kaluwin says if a leader’s conduct amounts to committing a crime, they may be prosecuted under those two sets of laws.

“People may be high profile, others may be little men on the street, and the law applies equally to all,” he explained.

“No one is superior before the law. So when people say we treat people differently from leaders, it’s not perfectly true. Leaders have a code that is covering them (leadership code), and the criminal code that also covers leaders.

One of the students told Loop PNG that they received their letters from acting pro vice-chancellor, Professor Mange Matui, through their respective school offices on Sunday.

“We went to register and found the letter waiting for us. We have been given two weeks to appeal the decision.”

In the letter, Professor Matui said: “The University of Papua New Guinea administration has credible evidence that, in your capacity as the SRC member of 2016, you have been involved in the 2016 May to July student unrest and boycott”.