Lieutenant jailed two years for assaulting wife
News that matter in Papua New Guinea
Lieutenant jailed two years for assaulting wife
PORT MORESBY: An army lieutenant who punched and burnt his wife with
hot iron about two years ago was jailed two years with hard labour by the
National Court.
In sentencing, Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika
described Lt Murray Oa as a coward who disgraced the uniform he wore.
Details of the court proceedings were reported by The National:
‘Cowardly
act’ earns soldier 2yrs
January 3, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
By SCHOLAR KASSAS
A JUDGE has jailed a Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) officer for
two years with hard labour for assault causing bodily harm to his partner over
a duet TikTok video, telling him that it was a cowardly act of a man towards
his partner.
“Officers in the PNGDF who behave like this have no place in the force, they
are a disgrace to the uniform they wear and should be sternly dealt with,”
Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika told Lt Murray Oa in the Waigani National Court.
“Lt Oa, 34, from Central and Enga, is expected to have discipline in his
actions because PNGDF is a disciplined force.
“He would have been trained to be disciplined in all aspects of life and to
have more self-control and instead of waiting for an explanation from the
victim, he assaulted her.
“It is a cowardly act of a man towards a woman who is his partner.”
Sir Gibbs jailed Lt Oa two years at Bomana prison.
“This imprisonment will deter Lt Oa and will also deter other soldiers and
those in other disciplinary forces,” he said.
Sir Gibbs said domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence was
deeply entrenched in Papua New Guinea communities.
“Lt Oa and the victim had lacked trust in their relationship, therefore,
counselling on marriage life and what it takes to be married and
responsibilities that go with it should be engaged to them” he said.
“There should be trust and commitment between a man and a woman.”
On June 4, 2020, Lt Oa, attached to Murray Barracks and living at Goldie
Barracks, arrived home intoxicated with alcohol and began questioning the
victim over the video she made over TikTok.
Before the victim explained, Lt Oa punched her on the face with his fists.
The victim took some punches and lost her balance, falling on the floor.
Lt Oa then held out a heated iron and placed it on her left thigh and burned
her.
He continued burning her on her left cheek, chest and abdomen while she cried
in pain.
Lt Oa also hit her twice on the left side of the forehead with the iron as she
struggled to get back on her feet.
The victim managed to escape later and sought help from the military police at
the barracks.
She was treated at the military aid post at the barracks and referred to Port
Moresby General Hospital for medical examination and further treatment.
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