Man fined $600 for breaching domestic violence protection order

Despite the strict conditions that were put in place to protect a woman, her brother thought the order had brought shame to their family so he engaged the services of a ‘peace initiator’ to see about getting it removed.

A PNG national has learnt that the only place he can have a domestic violence protection order changed is in court.

On December 10, 2024, the man was in the Gatton Magistrates Court when a protection order was put in place between himself and his former partner.

It included a condition that he was forbidden from having any contact with the woman, except through her lawyer.

Despite the strict conditions that were put in place to protect the woman, her brother thought the order had brought shame to their family so he engaged the services of a PNG community “peace initiator” to help in removing it, the Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

The man, his former partner and the peace initiator attended a Lockyer Valley Police Station on Friday together, whereupon the man was promptly arrested and charged with breaching the domestic violence protection order.

On Saturday, Police Prosecutor Anita Paige said the man initially denied speaking to his former partner while they were at the station.

“A check of the police station CCTV shows the man did initiate a conversation with the aggrieved,” she said.

“When he was shown the footage he smirked.”

The man was held in police custody overnight and pleaded guilty to one count each of breaching the protection order and breaching his bail.

In sentencing, Magistrate Kyna Morice took into account the man’s early plea, his limited criminal history, that he had spent a night in the watch house, and his good work history.

Ms Morice further cautioned the man, telling him any variation to the protection order must be done through the courts, and not at the police station.

The man was fined $600 with no convictions recorded.