Sanctuary Hotel’s Pang fined K130,000
News that matter in Papua New Guinea
Sanctuary Hotel’s Pang fined K130,000
PORT MORESBY: Sanctuary Hotel operations manager Jamie Pang was
fined a total of K130,000 by the Boroko district court for 11 offences under
the vFirearms Act.
Magistrate Garry Unjo on Friday slapped maximum fines
for all the 11 offences that Pang, an Australian from Sydney, pleaded guilty
to.
“The maximum fines are to teach other foreigners a
lesson that there are laws in Papua New Guinea that they need to respect,” he
added.
Details of the court proceedings were published by The National:
Pang fined
K130,000
December 20, 2021The
NationalMain Stories
By SYLVESTER WEMURU
SANCTUARY Hotel operations manager Jamie Pang was fined a total of
K130,000 by the Boroko district court for 11 offences under the Firearms Act.
Magistrate Garry Unjo on Friday slapped maximum fines for all the 11 offences
that Pang, an Australian from Sydney, pleaded guilty to.
“The maximum fines are to teach other foreigners a lesson that there are laws
in Papua New Guinea that they need to respect,” he added.
Pang is expected to settle the fines at 4.06pm today.
Unjo fined Pang K10,000 each for having in his possession unlicensed firearms
and ammunitions and K20,000 each for possession of two unlicensed pistols.
Prosecutor Sgt Sandra Holland submitted that the court imposed maximum
penalties on Pang because the offences were very serious” and that “there is no
excuse for him to behave as such in this country”.
“He must always respect the laws of this country.
“There had been many reports of gun-related killings in the country and how the
unlicensed firearms ended up in the hands of the people is a big question that
the Government is trying resolve,” she said.
“We acknowledge the good work that Pang and his family’s involvement in carrying
out community services to women and children.
“But, that is no excuse for him to commit such a crime in the country which
only shows that he has two faces.
“One for good, the other for bad.”
Pang’s lawyer Simon Nutley from the Fiocco and Nutley Lawyers agreed to pay the
maximum fines that the prosecution submitted and that when the fine was
settled, he would return to Australia for treatment because Pang had serious
psychiatric problems that needed medical treatment.
Nutley also submitted that Pang would pay the fine and would be put on good
behaviour.
Nutley told The National outside court that he was satisfied
with the sentencing and would pay the fines as ordered by the court.
Meanwhile, ACP (special operations) Donald Yamasombi welcomed the fines and
said he was pleased with the decision.
“This will now teach a lesson to the others, both foreigners and locals, that
there are laws in place to punish those who possess firearms and ammunitions
illegally in the country,” he added.
Pang was arrested by a joint police and customs special team led by ACP
Yamasombi at 6.30am on Nov 16 under an operation codenamed “Saki Bomb”.
The team raided Sanctuary Hotel where Pang resided.
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