Police compensates doctor with K12,000
The Madang-based policeman Constable Greg Wii, who was arrested and charged last month for the unlawful attack on Doctor Jimmy Aipit and his family, paid more than K12,000 as compensation.
Wii also gave garden food and betelnut with two cows and a pig as part of the compensation process for the illegal use of a gun to threaten the Dr Aupit on the night of February 6, 2025 in Madang Town.
Constable Wii, from Jiwaka, made the payment to the Modilon General Hospital doctor on Tuesday at the Madang Town Police Station in front of the Engan community, policemen and women, the media and the general public.
Police Station Commander, Senior Inspector Patrick Wallis and OIC Madang Town Police Station, Sergeant Steven Etna, as well as police prosecutors were also available to witness the compensation payment.
The payment, though small, was significant as it came at the order of the district court, following Wii’s guilty plea to his seven charges.
Constable Wii initially took a ‘not guilty plea’, however was changed on the trial day requesting leniency.
He expressed remorse for his rogue actions, stating he was intoxicated and regret the offence he and his accomplices committed, and proposed a peace settlement, adding he was willing to pay compensation.
The court upheld Wii’s submission and set aside his conviction, but ordered him to give two live pigs, K1000 in kind, and cash payment between K5000 and K10, 000 or more by March 24, 2025, which he did early this week.
The compensation payment was for the four Summary offences only.
Senior Provincial Magistrate Fridolin Kambibel used section 165 of the District Court Acts to issue the conditional orders to the defendant to comply with before March 25, when he appeared again in court for review and for his second mention on the three serious charges.
Constable Wii was slapped with a total of seven charges, following the incident of February 6th to 7th which was partly captured on video and posted on social media.
The video of him pointing a gun at Dr Jimmy Aipit, in the midst of their argument at the Jomba Police Station, went viral on social media, attracting a public outcry against his rogue behaviour and calls for severe penalties against him.
Wii also offered an apology yesterday through the media to Dr Aipit and his family and those affected by the incident, as well as the general public and his employer, the Royal PNG Constabulary and Police Commissioner, David Manning for tarnishing RPNGC’s reputation.
Dr Aipit accepted the compensation payment but expressed dissatisfaction that the case should have gone through a full trial to determine the actual extent of damage caused by the incident and the cause of it.