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What’s the worth of a 7-year-old boy’s life?


News that matters in Papua New Guinea

What’s the worth of a 7-year-old boy’s life?

PORT MORESBY: Parents know how much they love their children. But when the life of their child is taken away, how much is that worth?

A bus driver who killed a seven-year-old boy in a road accident last year was fined K5,000 in default two years jail by a Mt Hagen magistrate.

That means the reckless bus driver will walk away free after paying the fine.

So, is the boy’s life worth only K5,000? Has justice been served for the boy?

What do you think?


We reproduce below a report of the court proceedings by The National for the easy reading of our readers:




K5000 fine for boy’s death

The NationalNational
 Article Views: 5
A BUS driver who caused the death of a seven-year-old boy in a road accident was fined K5000 in default two years imprisonment by a Mt Hagen magistrate yesterday.
Senior magistrate Betty Jacob found Martin Pii, from Yampu in Kompiam-Ambum, Enga, guilty of reckless driving causing death.
Pii was driving a PMV bus in the Tomba section of the highway in Western Highlands on March 28 last year when he hit Makerina Pora who was standing by the side of the road.
The boy died instantly.
Jacob found Pii guilty of speeding and failing to slow down when approaching the damaged section of the road, and, thus, lost control of his steering.
She said Pii also ignored the road signs put up to warn motorists that road repairs were in progress.
Jacob said that if Pii had slowed down, he would have avoided the accident.
Prosecutor John Korua said such accidents had become prevalent. “The court needs to impose a harsh penalty and jail sentence to serve as a warning to other road users,” he added.
In mitigating Pii said: “I am sorry. I have already paid bel kol (compensation) to Pora’s relatives.
“Please give me a non-custodial sentence …”
Jacob ordered a refund of Pii’s K1000 bail, and to remain in custody until he paid the K5000 fine.

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