Central Provincial Police Commander

“I saw this on Thursday and it came as a shock and a disappointment to me, to the Central Provincial Government (CPG), and the people of Central Province. We have a good relationship with former PPC Laimo Asi. We have programs and initiatives planned already to undertake during this year and next what seems to be a demotion of our PPC and positioned up in Banz, is a slap in the face of the people of Central,” Peter said.

Central provincial police commander, Laimo Asi, said the woman was murdered – and this matter is currently under investigation as a murder case.

The body of the mother-of-two was found just after lunch yesterday.

She was identified by family members who had last seen her on Friday just before she left for a dance at a nearby outdoor club, known as the White House.

Central provincial police commander, Laimo Asi, told Loop PNG that a group of armed men, numbering over 10, entered the Kupiano area using two dinghies. This was between 8.30pm and 9pm.

“They then proceeded on foot to Kupiano Station, held up our district officers and took an education vehicle,” PPC Asi said.

The group then went into the Central police station commander’s residence and ambushed him and his family.

“They fired shots at the police station commander while he was in the house with his family,” PPC Asi reported.

The Police operation is code named “Jingle Bell 2017-2018”.

However, despite its catchy name, it will see a zero tolerance on illegal activities, says Central Provincial Police Commander, Laimo Asi.

PPC Asi said 2017 has been a challenging year for policing in the province and come the festive season, lawlessness and illegal activities will no doubt escalate.

Central Provincial Police Commander, Laimo Asi, confirmed the incident took place on Monday this week. Asi said the officer is currently locked up at the Kwikila police station.

“I instructed my officers to go down and process him today.

“If we cannot observe the law, then we have a problem. Election officers and security personnel are supposed to manage this election. For him to be found drunk is the last thing we want,” stated PPC Asi.

“Central Province has a liquor ban and for an election official to be engaged in this is totally uncalled for.”

Central Provincial Police Commander, Laimo Asi, said this during the briefing of the operations order for Central Police Command.

He said the main highlight of this operation is to help the Electoral Commission conduct a free, fair, safe election exercise.

Asi said Central Police has already carried out the first two phases of the election operation, which is awareness and utilisation.

“We are prepared now to carry out the next phase, which is the security and polling followed by the last phase of counting.”

This was gathered so far from the interrogation of the two male suspects.

Central Provincial Police Commander Laimo Asi said while investigations are ongoing, police have established this as the main motive behind the attack on the tourists.

He said according to the suspects, the tourist couple paid them less than what was required for their services; adding that the minimum pay for a days’ walk is K60 per day for each porter.