PNG Cyber Monitor

News that matter in Papua New Guinea Cockfighting betting ops busted (Bloodsport peripherals found, expats among 30 nabbed) PORT MORESBY: Police have busted an illegal cockfighting operation run by expatriates in the mountains of Vanimo-Green’s Sumomini in West Sepik on Sunday (Jan 30, 2022) afternoon. About 30 men from Indonesia, Malaysia and China, and a woman from Indonesia, had been takings bets on the cock-fights were arrested. Police Commissioner David Manning said K16,000, a samurai sword, a bayonet and bloodsport peripherals were found and seized from the suspects. Details of the news break were published by The National : Cockfighting ops busted February 1, 2022 The National Main Stories Police rounding up the men and a woman at Sumomini, West Sepik. By MIRIAM ZARRIGA in Vanimo POLICE have busted an illegal cockfighting operation run by expatriates in the mountains of Vanimo-Green’s Sumomini in West

News that matter in Papua New Guinea Three teachers murdered in Madang in a week PORT MORESBY: Three teachers were murdered in Madang in a week, commander Acting Supt Mazuc Rubiang says. “Their bodies are in the Modilon Hospital mortuary except one which is still missing at sea,” he added. The news break was reported by The National : Three teachers killed in Madang February 1, 2022 The National Main Stories By SYLVESTER WEMURU THREE teachers in Madang have been killed by violent criminals in the space of a week, according to police. Madang provincial police commander acting Supt Mazuc Rubiang said students started school this week and the teachers had resumed their duties last week. But the families, students and some teachers in the province were mourning the death of the three men. Supt Rubiang said two deceased teachers were identified by their relatives. Their bodies are at the Modilon Hospital morgue while

News that matter in Papua New Guinea Sanctuary Hotel’s Pang nabbed for breaching immigration laws PORT MORESBY: Sanctuary Hotel operations manager Jamie Pang was taken into custody for breaching immigration laws. Justice Minister Bryan Kramer said there were existing laws listing Methamphetamine as a dangerous drug as as such Pang has been arrested. The issue was raised with Kramer over the Boroko district court’s ruling to dismiss drug possession charges against Pang. The news break was reported by The National : Justice Minister Kramer discusses Pang drug case January 31, 2022 The National National By LULU MAGINDE JUSTICE Minister Bryan Kramer says there are existing laws listing Methamphtamine as a dangerous drug and as such, Sanctuary Hotel operations manager Jamie Pang has been taken into custody for breaching immigration laws. The issue was raised with Kramer over the district court’s ruling to dismiss drug possession charges against Pang. “He has been taken

News that matter in Papua New Guinea Covid-19 surge in Papua New Guinea PORT MORESBY: The fourth surge of Coronavirus (Covid-19) has seen 50 Port Moresby General Hospital staff infected, hospital director of medical services Dr Kone Sobi says. “Also, 250 tests on patients seeking services in the hospital last week, 150 were positive. “That is 60 per cent of the tests returned positive,” he added. And National Pandemic Response Deputy Controller Dr Daoni Esorom is concerned about a potential increase in Covid-19 cases in schools which open this week. PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces a few reports on the Covid-19 updates as reported by The National : 60pc of tests return positive: Doc January 31, 2022 The National National PORT Moresby General Hospital director of medical service Dr Kone Sobi said, of the 250 Coronavirus (Covid-19) test performed on patients seeking services at hospital last week, 150 were positive. “That is 60 per cent of the tests returned positive,

News that matter in Papua New Guinea Papua New Guineans paid minimum wages in urban areas, barely afford accommodation PORT MORESBY: Between 80 and 90 per cent of Papua New Guineans working in urban areas are paid minimum wages, limiting their capacity to afford decent accommodation, Bank of PNG acting governor Benny Popoitai says. Speaking at the National Superannuation Fund (Nasfund)’s employer awards night on Thursday (Jan 27, 2022) in Port Moresby, he said urban dwellers’ wages were spent on basic necessities “for survival on a fortnightly basis”. The issue was published by The National : Most are on minimum wage January 31, 2022 The National Main Stories Benny Popoitai By DALE LUMA BETWEEN 80 and 90 per cent of people working in urban areas are paid minimum wages, limiting their capacity to afford decent accommodation, an official says. Bank of PNG acting governor Benny Popoitai said during the National Superannuation Fund’s (Nasfund) employer awards night o

  News that matter in Papua New Guinea Millions of Kina paid to foreign consultants since 2015 PORT MORESBY: The Justice and Attorney-General Department has received a complaint that millions of Kina had been paid to foreign consultants since 2015, Minister Bryan Kramer says. He declined to comment whether the complaint was lodged internally or externally, citing the Whistle Blower Protection Act. “But we are aware of the complaint and issue,” Kramer said on Friday (Jan 28, 2022). The news break was reported by The National : Dept receives complaint against consultants January 31, 2022 The National Main Stories THE Justice and Attorney-General Department has received a complaint that millions of kina had been paid to foreign consultants since 2015, Minister Brayan Kramer says. He declined to comment whether the complaint was lodged internally or externally, citing the Whistle-Blower Protection Act. “But, we are

News that matter in Papua New Guinea 70-year-old ‘animalistic’ grandpa to stand trial for allegedly molesting four-year-old granddaughter PORT MORESBY: Magistrate Paul Nii described a 70-year-old man who allegedly sexually abused his four-year-old granddaughter as “animalistic”. “Allowing a minor to watch a pornographic video is regarded animalistic as in this case, your act is way below the behaviour of animals,” he said. Nii then committed the grandfather to stand trial in the National Court on Monday (Jan 31, 2022) for allegedly abusing his granddaughter. The court proceedings were published by The National : ‘Animalistic’ grandfather to stand trial over sexual abuse January 28, 2022 The National National MAGISTRATE Paul Nii described a 70-year-old man who allegedly sexually abused his four-year-old granddaughter as “animalistic”. “Allowing a minor to watch a pornographic video is regarded animalistic as in this case, your act is way below the behaviour of anim

News that matter in Papua New Guinea Tommy Baker laid to rest PORT MORESBY: No post-mortem was conducted on Tommy Maeva Baker as per the wishes of his parents, Milne Bay commander Supt Peter Barkie says. Baker was laid to rest on Monday (Jan 24, 2022) in Rabaraba’s Cape Vogel in Milne Bay. Tommy was one of the most notorious wanted criminal in Papua New Guinea until he was shot dead in a gun battle with police on Dec 30, 2022. The news break was reported by The National : Baker family bury son January 28, 2022 The National Main Stories NO post-mortem was conducted on Tommy Maeva Baker as per the wishes of his parents, police say. Baker was laid to rest on Monday at Cape Vogel, Rabaraba, Milne Bay. Provincial police commander Supt Peter Barkie confirmed the burial. Parents Baker and Edna Maeva had told  The National  that their wish was to bury their son at his mother’s village, Cape Vogel. They had said that they would be writing to the police to release their

News that matter in Papua New Guinea Teenager committed to stand trial for allegedly raping 10-year-old girl in church gathering PORT MORESBY: Lae magistrate Pious Tapil says parents need to keep a watch over their children at big events, even at church gatherings. “Some people attending such events had bad intentions,” he added. He said this on Wednesday (Jan 26, 2022) when committing Mathias John, 18, to the National Court for allegedly raping a 10-year-old girl at a church fellowship event last year. The court proceedings were published by The National : On trial for allegedly raping girl January 28, 2022 The National Main Stories By GLORIA BAUAI A MAGISTRATE in Lae has reminded parents to watch their children at big events when presiding over the case of a 10-year-old girl who was raped at a church gathering. Magistrate Pious Tapil said some people who attended such events had bad intentions. He said this o