Manus Police

Ken Lomai was caught over the weekend. He escaped with others after he was arrested and charged for a serious offence last year.

Provincial police commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, says Lomai and three other co-accused were charged with wilful murder and were awaiting trial in the National Court when they escaped.

Yapu said while the escapee was on the run, he allegedly damaged the windscreen of a Kingfisher Hire vehicle with another suspect, who is still on the run.

“He will be dealt with for the offence by the CID (criminal investigation department) members.

Police say the Manus man was killed after he was speared in his left chest.

The killing took place last Friday at Bundrahei village, Pobuma LLG, in the south coast of Manus.

The deceased, Allan Damien, was from Likum village, also in the same LLG.

Manus provincial police commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, says his officers were deployed to monitor the area due to the tense situation.

“The incident occurred over theft of betelnut in the betelnut block,” he says.

A suspect has been apprehended and is in custody pending further investigation.

Manus Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, said he is of Iranian nationality.

“The deceased was identified as Hamed Shamshiripou, 28 years of age from Iran and lives at East Lorengau Refugee Transit Centre,” he said.

He said the deceased’s body was found hanging on the branch of a tree near East Lorengau Elementary by students at 9am on Monday, August 7.

“After receiving the report of the suicide, police and Papua New Guinea Immigration and Citizenship Authority Services (PNGICSA) attended to the scene and retrieved the body,” PPC Yapu said.

He said the mobile squad on Quick Response Force will remain in the province till the end of the month while other security personnel have been stood down from the election security operations.

PPC Yapu revealed that all polling allowances have been paid, however, their only issue is the counting allowances.

The security personnel’s allowance issue was taken up with the police headquarters and also with Police Commissioner Gari Baki whilst he was in Manus to observe the election.

Manus Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, said Thomas Kaleh, 52 years, of Patlok village, Kari, PNKA LLG, was arrested and charged for impersonation, by trying to use another person’s name to cast his vote.

His arrest followed complaints from scrutineers at the polling booths. Reports were then made by polling officials and security personnel, which led to his arrest.

He remains at the Lorengau Police Station.

From this arrest, PPC Yapu is now warning all voters to be honest by using their correct names to vote.

Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector David Yapu (pictured) said the deceased’s body was found hanging from a tree after she went missing from June 21 to June 23.

Her body was discovered at Bush camp, Lombrum Naval base, on June 23. 

The deceased has been identified as Doris Moipe, who transferred to Manus to continue her education after completing Grade 10 at the Good Shepherd High School in Madang Province.

She was to continue her education but ended up marrying a Manus man instead.

The nine aged between 28 and 45 years were apprehended at Buliso village in the Bupi Chupen Lelemadih LLG and taken to the Lorengau by their ward councilor.

Amongst the nine was a female who admitted to taking part in the sale of homebrew.

Manus police commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu told Loop PNG the woman was warned and later released due to lack of evidence.

He said items used in the production of home brew were also surrendered by the accused persons to Police on Tuesday this week.  

Manus Election Manager Sponsa Navi told Loop PNG today that awareness materials arrived last week and have been sent out to the Local Level Governments.   

“We have already sent down materials to our officers in the LLGs for awareness,” he said.

Navi has also gone on air on the provincial NBC radio station to do awareness on the Limited Preferential Voting (LPV) system.

“Yes we are on target and the ballot papers are now here in Lorengau,” Navi stated.

This follows arrests made in April and on June 1 against two other senior public servants in the province.

Project officer with Division of Fisheries, Kanawi Pomat (42), of M’Bunai village in the Penabu Nalisopat LLG, and Provincial Fisheries Officer with the Division of Fisheries Paul Mangeu (61) of Worei village, Tetidu LLG, were arrested this week.

They were charged with Abuse of Public Office and Official Corruption by members of Port Moresby based Fraud squad team.

Manus Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, said the personnel were given a briefing on Saturday and are now out in full force.

Foot beat and motorist patrols, roadblocks and raids of suspected areas for homebrew, drugs and firearms, will be conducted during the operation.

PPC Yapu said the team will also be carrying out awareness on election related offences, monitor the sale of liquor and black markets, as well as monitor campaign activities.