Investigation

The incident that transpired on Wednesday 10^th January 2024, believed to be instigated by police, will be thoroughly investigated says Controller of the State Of Emergency and Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Donald Yamasombi, in a press conference this afternoon.

He said one is a government team, another is an incident review team and the third is a criminal investigation team.

“The investigation will look into the conduct of our personnel (who) will look into the criminal implications of what we (police) did and what we may have done wrong.

Citing the recent suspension of the Commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) by the National Executive Council, TIPNG raised concerns that there are inconsistency in the government’s handling of investigations of breaches and apparent wrongdoings of public office holders.

The PNGDF have stated that it is not appropriate for the PNGDF to comment on a case involving a suspect who is a soldier from the Southern Highlands Province, charged with the murder of his partner, a mother of three.

Following the arrest of two female Chinese nationals yesterday, Metropolitan Superintendent, Chris Kunyanban, said in cases like this, police work with sister agencies like Customs, Immigration and the Internal Revenue Commission.

“Investigation is still going on, we want to establish or ascertain as to how those products came in – through Customs or they brought in the different raw substances to manufacture the soap here in the country,” said Chief Superintendent Kunyanban.

The Central police officers attached to the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) are in charge of the investigations. 

According to police, it was alleged that the woman was in her house when the suspect approached her from the back and slashed her neck with a bush knife. 

The CID officers confirmed this when they arrived at the crime scene to examine the body. He said police have also collected statements from eyewitnesses.

Police said the identity of the suspect will be revealed once he is formally charged by the NCD Armed Robbery Squad.

A policeman involved in the arrest said a group of armed criminals used a white sedan and held up a shop at Hohola yesterday. The criminals stole various store goods, including cash and cigarette packets.

Assistant Commissioner of Police NCD Central, Anthony Wagambie Jr said the incident was broadcasted through the police communications network and police units who were on duty began the search across Port Moresby.

The PNG Defence Force has retracted its earlier statement saying preliminary investigation revealed that the soldier alleged to have caused willful damages to medical equipment in the PMGH Emergency Ward, was a patient there. He was referred to PMGH A&E Department on the afternoon of Thursday 15 December. 

While they are awaiting a report from PMGH on circumstances surrounding the incident, hospital CEO Dr Paki Molumi said the incident occurred on the said date (15 December), between 3:15pm and 3:30pm.

A statement released by the PNGDF this morning stated, “The headquarters PNG Defence Force has been made aware of the incident involving drunk soldiers at the Port Moresby General Hospital on Sunday.

“The Chief of Defence Force has ordered an urgent investigation into this matter and to ensure those involved are dealt with under the Code of Military Discipline and appropriate actions taken to ensure no repetition of such ill-discipline behavior occurs again.”

East Sepik provincial police commander Superintendent Albert Beli said that the late Kufai was attacked in his own house by a known suspect brandishing a bush knife. Kufai allegedly died from blood loss after the suspect severely cut him in his lower left leg. Police alleged that Kufai’s attacker was intoxicated when he committed the crime.

Western Highlands 2022 Election Operations Commander, Superintendent John Sagom, confirmed that suspects entered the Kagamuga airport in the early hours of Tuesday and spilled oil on the airport tarmac causing airline operators to suspend all flights into and out of Mt Hagen.

Mr Sagom condemned the act saying it is an act of “terrorism” and vowed to investigate the incident thoroughly and arrest those involved.