PNG court orders pay out over human rights breaches

1:09 pm on 6 March 2018

The Papua New Guinea National Court has ordered the state to pay four people duals a total of $US12,188 dollars for human rights breaches.

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Photo: 123rf

The offences, committed by police, happened nearly 10 years ago in Port Moresby.

The Post Courier reports that the damages for Michael Wafi, Efete Max, Petrus Magabe, and Samuel Arawe following a trial that determined that the State as the employer of the police officers was liable for the breaches.

The plaintiffs had claimed damages for property losses, breach of human rights, personal injuries, and exemplary damages.

They were among eleven traders who were assaulted by police who destroyed or confiscated trading items such as betelnuts, mustard, cigarettes, playing cards, and other items at Gerehu market in 2009.

The police, carrying guns and bush knives, raided the market looking for people who had earlier started a fight in the market.