Playboy magazines land Australian in hot water in PNG

An Australian man who had three Playboy magazines in his apartment could spend six months in a Papua New Guinea jail for possessing pornography.

The 59-year-old, from Oakleigh in Melbourne, faced a court in the PNG capital Port Moresby this week, charged with possession of pornography.

A PNG police spokesman said officers had earlier raided his home in the suburb of Koki, finding the magazines in a box.

The man, who had been working as a workshop manager for a construction company in Port Moresby, denied any knowledge of the magazines and denied the charges, the spokesman said.

He said officers had searched the man's apartment, acting on a warrant following complaints he had committed an assault and illegally discharged a pistol on February 25.

No firearms were found, but the three Playboy magazines were found in a box during the search, he said.

The man was granted bail when he faced Boroko District Court this week. He will reappear in court again on a date to be set, the spokesman said.

PNG law has a much wider definition than Australia of what constitutes pornography.

The pornography possession charge carries a fine of up to 500 kina ($220) or six months in jail.

- AAP