Traffic Police

Acting Provincial Police Commander, Senior Inspector Patterson Birigi said the accident happened between 11 and 11.45 pm and the police officers were notified and responded to the scene to make sure the passengers and the vehicles were safe.

According to the police brief, the vehicles involved in the accident were traveling from two different directions, one was traveling into Port Moresby from Kerema while the other PMV was travelling out of Port Moresby when they collided.

East Sepik Provincial Police Commander, Superintendent Albert Beli said according to reports received, the vehicle was driven by a senior police officer in the province.

He said it was a sad day for East Sepik Police, the vehicle was donated by the Yangoru-Saussia District Development Authority to help with police operations. This now means the police are down with one vehicle to carry out their duties.

PPC Beli said traffic police officers were assigned to investigate the matter and appropriate actions will be taken against the officer involved.

NCD Metropolitan Commander, Chief Superintendent Perou N’Dranou, said: “Culturally, festive periods bring on a lot of binging and fatal accidents have known to occur, claiming the lives of many people in the past, and that’s why it is important for us to act now to deter such reckless behaviour.”

N’Dranou said police road blocks will be mounted in the lead up to, and during the festive period at designated spots around the city and vehicles will be stopped to ensure motorists are complying with traffic regulations and the law.

This comes after recent road incidences that have taken place this Christmas period.

NCD Police Boss, Perou N’dranou said this was very unfortunate but drivers should know better.

“Drinking and driving has its consequences and the incidents on Christmas were caused because of the drivers own recklessness.”

He said police will not tolerate such behavior and they will be dealt with by Traffic police.

Meanwhile, Traffic police have reported at least six minor incidents in Port Moresby dating from the 24th to the 26th of this month.

Director Traffic, acting Superintendent Joe Joseph, says trainings and graduation are signs of progress and the RPNGC is working towards achieving its target in being better prepared for the 2018 APEC meeting.

Director Joseph made this comment last Friday at the 4th batch of motor cyclist graduation ceremony at the Four-Mile Traffic headquarters in Port Moresby. This was part of the preparation for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting motor cycle escorts.

The general public in the nation’s capital will be seeing a lot more motorcycles moving around and working through the traffics.

This is after the first six RPNGC cyclists graduated from a three week specialized course in motorcycle motorcade yesterday at the PNGDF Air Transport Wing.

Police are asking the public to understand what these trainings are for as it’s for the safety of motorcades as well as that of people.

Along with the practical sessions training, there will also be five more courses introduced throughout the year plus one in 2018.

In an interview with Director for Traffic, Joe Joseph stressed the investigators cannot preempt the case.

“Investigators cannot anticipate or predict the actual happening of the incident that had taken place and take action without building a strong case to present before the courts; let alone take any action in order to hinder the investigations that is currently running.”

He said we cannot just have the suspect arrested and it goes up to court only for it to be thrown out for lacking sufficient evidence.

Traffic Police, Joe Joseph, says the challenge is when you only have a case resting on witness statements.

“We need hard evidence and it is hard to comprehend when there was no one to see and tell of the actual event that had taken place between the suspect and the victim.”

The families, friends and relatives of the Late Ruby are being urged to remain tolerant during this time.

Meanwhile, the suspect involved in the death of the former Miss PNG is yet to be charged as investigations continue.

Director for Traffic Police, Joe Joseph is urging the families, friends and relatives of the Late Ruby Ann Laufa to remain tolerant during this time.

He said the case is not a clear cut case adding that the challenge is when you only have a case resting on witness statements.

“We need hard evidence and it is hard to comprehend when there was no one to see and tell of the actual event had taken place between the suspect and the victim.”

Josephs’ says police have already spoken to the Laufa family of the progress of the investigations and that they are aware of it.

Director for traffic police, Joe Joseph, told Loop PNG that investigators have also spoken to the family members, who have given in their statements.

He said although the case is building, the weight of the charge will still depend on the witness statements that have been collected.

“The charge of the suspect will still be determined upon the findings of the investigations, whether he will be charged under CID or traffic police,” says Joseph.

Meanwhile, the suspect remains uncharged as investigations continue.

The case is still with traffic police.