Laimo Asi

The team of policemen and women are moving across the Central Province to cover the four electorates from Kairuku- Hiri, Abau, Goilala and Rigo.

The awareness campaign is phase one of the Central Province Police Commands Elections Operations Plan.

 The operational plan for the awareness campaign has been divided into three phases;

Pre- election operation which includes general awareness and intelligent gathering;

Election operation which includes polling and counting; and

Central Provincial Police Commanders, Laimo Asi said this upon presenting his 2017 election security plan yesterday to the Central/NCD Commander at Boroko Police Station.

PPC Asi said preparations for the conduct of elections went well in the previous elections. ͞

Police personnel will be on ground at their assigned location beginning with the awareness, campaigning, polling, counting and declaration and security will be divided equally to all districts, PPC Asi said.

Central Province Police Commander Laimo Asi tells PNG Loop that the deaths were reported at the 17-Mile picnic spot and along the Brown River area.

Asi says that two deaths were reported along the Brown river are, one on Friday and the other on Saturday.

Details into these deaths have yet to be confirmed.

At 17-Mile a man’s body was found at the picnic area which is now also being attended to by police.

Asi says the circumstances of the deaths have yet to be established adding that his CID officers should advise him by this afternoon.

However witnesses say they were from the Highlands including two other females who were admitted at the hospital and two men who were taken to the police station.

The male victim is a University Student whilst the woman is an employee of Pacific Corporate Security Services.

Meanwhile, the vehicle is believed to be owned by an Engan businessman.

Central police boss, Laimo Asi has reserved comments until he will be fully briefed today.

Commander, Laimo Asi said the charges of rape against the two alleged perpetrators was based on the medical as part of standard investigation procedures.

Asi was responding to public criticism about the accuracy of the trekkers account on what happened on that day or night along the track.

Investigations are ongoing.

Yesterday Tourism Minister, Justin Tkatchenko said legal action will be taken against the pair for defamatory remarks used in a British newspaper, after local investigations have been completed.

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.

Central police commander Laimo Asi says that this festive season will be  free of an alcohol ban and  urged the public to respect the rule of law.

He called on the police and members of the public to be responsible and make this festive season trouble-free.

Central police have begun community awareness runs starting at Kwikila on Friday and are now anticipated to move along in the Aroma coast area.

PPC Asi says that part of the operations for this festive season will be to empower the community to take ownership of the law and order in the province.