A longtime resident and businessman claimed that he and his family were assaulted and beaten by members of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force Navy in Madang on Saturday night.
Simon Merton, management consultant at MMS PNG Ltd in Madang posted on his facebook page about the incident.
He told Loop PNG that his wife was assaulted and their adopted 11 year old daughter is traumatized.
He said they were allegedly attacked while on their way home.
“We encountered a large group of drunk Navy personnel from Boat 04 who were brawling and blocking the street outside a night club next door to where I reside,” Merton said.
“When I asked them to move off the road so we could pass through, they proceeded to assault me and my family.
“We ran into the gate of the night club for protection and these guys climbed the fence and overpowered the security guards that were trying to protect us.
“These guys were so out of control that when Police arrived to assist us, they immediately turned and assaulted the Police as well,” Merton posted on his facebook page
He said they managed to get away whilst they were distracted with the Police intervening.
“Otherwise they would have killed me for sure.
“Police returned with reinforcements later only to find the so called soldiers had been rounded up by their CO, went straight back to their boat, pulled anchor and departed Madang, preventing the arrest of these rogue animals.”
The assault have left him with fractured eye socket and cheek bone, black and swollen eyes as well as multiple bruises on his face.
“Most of my injuries were sustained on my face and head whilst I was still sitting in the car.”
Merton is calling on relevant authorities to shut down the Seafarers Club in Madang because patrons getting drunk there constantly ended in brawls which spread to the streets.
Merton told Loop PNG that he had filed a formal complaint at the Jomba Police station in Madang.