Mass arrest of students

By JIMMY KALEBE
POLICE have warned students in Lae that they will be arrested and taken to court for fighting in public, following the appearance in court of 197 last Friday.
Acting metropolitan police commander Senior Inspector James Luan said 170 from one school and 27 from another were charged under the Intergroup Fighting Act.
Those who pleaded guilty were fined either K300 or K500 each, while others who pleaded not guilty were ordered to pay a bail of K300 or K500.
“We have experienced school fights over time, but it had (decreased).
“But last Thursday was a major one among the two schools” he said.
He warned that police would arrest students involved in fighting on the spot.
Students who pleaded guilty were fined K300 by Magistrate Terra Dawai.
Others who appeared before Magistrate Isaac Tjipet were fined K500 each.
The students who pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Dawai were granted a bail of K300 each. They will return to court on Sept 6.
Those who pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Tjipet were granted bail for K500. The case was adjourned to Sept 4

Luan said those whose court fines were paid by their parents were released to go home on Friday.
“Major school fighting in Lae had ceased completely for months – until Aug 11.”
Last Thursday, the fighting erupted again, when students from one school attacked students from another at Top Town.
Senior Inspector Luan said students from Bugandi, Lae Secondary and Busu had all stopped fighting.
He applauded parents who have taken the initiative to be responsible for their children’s actions.