By Vasinatta Yama – EM TV News, Port Moresby
Often the general public can be critical of Police Prosecutors, due to cases being dismissed and defendants set free.
However, prosecutors in Port Moresby highlighted the challenges they face every day, and the dire need to have more prosecutors to tackle the increased number of crimes.
Over the past three months the Waigani Committal Court, the busiest District Court in Port Moresby, has dismissed more than 10 criminal cases.
Prosecutors clarified that many times it is due simply to files not being completed or served on the defendants.
Senior Constable Judith Pauls says they only rely on information provided by investigators to prosecute matters in court.
With the workload prosecutors have, and the number of new cases coming in, they admit they do not have enough time to look thoroughly into each case.
Every day they have many submissions filed by lawyers, but they don’t have enough time to reply to each individually.
This shows the need to have more police officers become prosecutors, to beef up manpower, and to carry on from those who have left.
Police prosecutors would also want to be involved in training and workshops, but this is not currently happening within the force.
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