arrests

NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Silva Sika personally led this operation, demonstrating the police's commitment to ensuring public safety.

The unrest in Koki began when a man was killed, triggering a wave of violence and chaos. Opportunistic individuals took advantage of the situation, engaging in acts of looting, vandalizing shops, and damaging vehicles traveling along Healy Road. The extent of the damage, loss, and injuries caused by this unrest is still being assessed.

Madang Provincial Police Commander Acting Superintendent Mazuc Rubiang said the arms were discovered after police and soldiers acted on a tip-off. They had had stopped the eight in a vehicle at Walium Station, Usino Bundi District, and found two Winchester shotguns and some live ammunition.

Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector Daniel Yangen said police confiscated an M16A2 rifle, live ammunition and Police and PNG Defence Force Uniforms.

Chief Inspector Yangen said the suspects were arrested on July 20 and charged with two counts each, under section 7 and section 65A of the Firearms Act and two counts each under section 16 of the Summary Offences Act.

PPC Yangen said the suspects, aged between 19 and 45 years-old, are from Nipa Kutubu and Mendi Munihu districts.

“I must make it very clear here that no one is above the law,” Commissioner Mostyn Mangau said.

Mr Mangau added “We are expected to live and make decisions within the principles of the rule of law regardless of our positions in our society. I therefore forewarned that if anybody is found in breach of such illegal activities, Police will not hesitate to arrest and deal with him/her.”

The four officers were among seven arrested for drunk driving in Lorengau.

PPC Manus, Chief Inspector David Yapu, was frustrated to see the Immigration officers with PNGDF soldiers and civilians misusing hired vehicles, drinking alcohol and driving around in vehicle intended for the use of refugee operations on the island.

Police allege the group, while under the influence of alcohol, also went to a residence and assaulted the owner of a house at ward 1 as well as damaged his properties.

This is according to the daily crime summary provided by the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police and Chief of Operations, Jim Andrews.

The two crimes include one stealing of motor vehicle and one grievous bodily harm.

Brief statements of crimes reported:

Two of them have been charged, with one of them admitting to setting two fires to the conveyor belt which feeds ore to the coast for shipping to the SLN smelter in Noumea

The third suspect has been transferred to prison after he had been given a jail term of 18 months in June.

The arrests came only days after 15 trucks were destroyed in Kouaoua.

Earlier police had removed a blockade of the mining site which has been the scene of protracted disputes this year with a group opposed to expanded mining.

This is according to the daily crime summary provided by the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police and Chief of Operations, Jim Andrews.

The 28 crimes include: two murders, five rape cases, two robberies, three break-in domestic, one stealing of motor vehicle, four stealing, one fraud, eight grievous bodily harm and two abduction cases.

Eight crimes were reported in Morobe Province, six in Enga, four in Southern Highlands and ten reported in the National Capital District.

Brief statements of crimes reported nationwide:

New Ireland Provincial Police Commander, John Midi, said most were drunk and disorderly youths; otherwise Independence was celebrated peacefully, with most celebrating indoors due to heavy rains.

Meanwhile, a man from New Ireland and East New Britain parentage was also arrested for being in possession of a firearm.

PPC Midi said the community in Konos, Central New Ireland, alerted police after the man discharged the firearm over the weekend.

Police visited the man and confiscated the firearm with 20 rounds.

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.