Madang police chief warns against compensation payments

The Madang people have been warned to stop using compensation payments to settle crimes, but have offenders face the law.
Madang's acting Provincial Police Commander, Superintendent Robert Baim told the people in Yawar village, in the Astrolabe Bay LLG, that “Compensation will not bring justice,”.
“If we keep accepting it, people will continue committing crimes and think they can get away. A crime is a crime, and offenders must face justice," Baim said.
Yawar villagers on Wednesday paid K5,000, a live pig, and garden food to the family of the late Jeffery Ningama from Kobu Village. Jeffery was brutally murdered in August at Sama SDA School by youths from Yawar and Albu villages.

The killing, linked to sorcery accusations, was filmed and shared on social media. It was the second death related to sorcery in the area; both cases are under police investigation.
Sergeant Rose Lapan, Officer-in-Charge of Ileg Police Post, confirmed that the suspects in the second killing are in custody, and that compensation would not stop police from investigating.
“The second death happened because people ignored the law,” Sergeant Lapan said.
Police and community leaders, including ward councilors, witnessed the ceremony. The exchange of tanget leaves marked peace between the Yawar, Albu, and Kobu communities.
The Kobu people, originally from Walium in Usino-Bundi, have lived in the area for many years.
Madang's Public Solicitor, Trevor Kerari, has supported the call by the PPC saying compensation should never replace legal justice. He added, "Compensation payments can only be considered as a mitigating factor by the courts and not as a deterrent".