Papua New Guinea National Court sentenced 2 soldiers to 25, 20 years for teen’s murder, emphasizing strict rules for military, police, and Corrections.
Justice Served: Soldiers Jailed for Teenager’s Killing in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
NATIONAL Court on Friday jailed two soldiers to 25 years and 20 years respectively for killing a teenager in Port Moresby nine years ago.
Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika, presiding in Waigani, said the disciplined forces – the army, police and Correctional Services – needed to know that it was wrong to mobilise and retaliate against civilians as in this case.
“Soldiers, you are not at war with civilians. Your rules of engagement are very strict and must be exercised with restraint and caution with civilians and in combat in warfare,” Sir Gibbs said.
He said Jude Nidung, 33, of Finschhafen’s Yunzang, did not need to go back to Murray Barracks after he was assaulted at Coronation Primary School to mobilise soldiers to retaliate.
“There were about 20 soldiers who returned to the primary school and assaulted the East Sepik students who were there for a cultural show,” he added.
The other soldier, Kenneth Yangun, 34, of Bela, Karintz, Mendi-Munihu, Sothern Highlands, was part of the group of soliders who went to the primary school.
Sir Gibbs said it was clear that Nidung, Yangun and others had gone to the school to retaliate.
“They were at the scene of the incident and their intensions were clear,” he added.
Nidung and Yangun pleaded not guilty and were convicted after a trial.
Sir Gibbs said the reason for Nidung’s higher penalty was that he was the cause of the fight and the assaults, and cause of Jeremiah Yinu’s death.
He said this because it was before the court that Nidung and a friend were drunk at that time and assaulted a Sepik student for wearing an army-used jacket.
This caused other Sepik students to beat Nidung and his friend who were in civilian attire.
Sir Gibbs said the assault on the Sepik student for wearing the jacket was unnecessary.
He said instead of letting it go, Nidung decided to go and mobilise group.
“He is therefore the reason Jeremiah Yinu is now dead. Yinu would be alive today, if Nidung had restrained himself from mobilising the other soldiers to retaliate,” Sir Gibbs said.
He then deducted two years from the time spent in custody.
Nidung now has a balance of 23 years to serve, and Yangun has 18 years to serve at Bomana Prison.
TOP News
Posts
Comments
Post a Comment