Manus Police

Police in Manus say the boat left Manus for Wewak nine days ago but has not arrived at the destination.

Acting Provincial Police Commander Senior Inspector David Yapu is appealing to boat operators traveling between the waters of Manus, Wewak and Madang to keep an eye out on the boat and report to police of its whereabouts.

He said the buai trade has become a big concern as a number of boats have gone missing.

The national disaster and emergency services with NMSA have been alerted to assist with the whereabouts of the missing boat and four people.

Her lifeless body was discovered hanging from a tree at Kambos village, in the Penabu/Nalisopat Local Level Government, Lorengau, Manus Province.

Acting Manus Provincial Police Commander, Inspector David Yapu, said the woman was  identified as Akili Chris who recently completed her Grade 10 at Manus Secondary School.

The cause of death is yet to be determined by police at this stage but according to police reports, she was earlier raped by her uncle.

Acting Provincial Police Commander senior inspector David Yapu told Loop PNG that the accused, 28 year-old Muhammad Hussain of Pakistan was formally arrested on Monday.

He was charged with four counts of sexual penetration, under section 229(a) of the Criminal Code Act and Sexual offense and Crimes against Children’s Act.

PPC Yapu said the defendant invited the victim and two others to the lodge where she was violated.

Hussain is expected to appear in court this Wednesday for mention.

Magistrate Francis Kalai of Buyang village in the Tetidu LLG, Lorengau District, Manus Province was fined K100 by the court last Friday, February 17.

A short trial was conducted under the Traffic Court jurisdiction and Kalai was convicted of one count of driving under the influence of alcohol and one count of driving without due care and attention.

The court ordered a six-month suspension of Kalai’s driving licence.

Manus’ acting Provincial Police Commander, senior inspector David Yapu made these comments when appealing to betelnut traders in the province to stop making the trip to Wewak for betelnut after three people were rescued between Manus and Wewak on Tuesday morning by an overseas container vessel.

The three rescued are 42-year-old John Passingan from New Hanover New Ireland Province, 23-year-old Aitape man Anis Ravia and 30-year-old Yoki Polihau from Lawes, Manus Province.

The men of Irianian origin were arrested by local police on New Years Eve in Manus and were charged with drunk and disorderly behavior and resisting police arrest.

They failed to turn up in court before Magistrate Josephine Nidu last Wednesday which resulted in a warrant of arrest issued for their apprehension.

Acting Provincial Police Commander Senior Inspector David Yapu said both men;  26-year-old Mehdi Bohlouli and 28-year-old Mahbomb Rabbani Mohammad have been picked up by local police at the Regional Processing Center.

Acting Provincial Police Commander Senior Inspector David Yapu issued the appeal on Monday after another Asylum Seeker was arrested and charged in Lorengau for being in possession of Marijuana.

He said police will be hard on them (foreigners) if they continue to break the laws of the country.

The man from Iraq, 25-year-old Ahmad Jasham was picked up by police at the boat shed at Lorengau town.

Jasham is expected to appear in court this week.

This is the seventh arrest involving those processed at the Regional Processing Center since the New Year.

The appeal was made today by  Acting provincial police commander Senior Inspector David Yapu, after the suspects, known to police, broke into a house at the upper area of ward 5, Lorengau,  and walked away with K7,497 cash monies.

PPC Yapu said about five suspects armed with a home- made gun and bush knives reportedly broke into the house on Wednesday January 4.

This allegedly took place while the occupants of the house were out.

“Suspects are known to police and police will be arresting them soon.”

This follows the arrest of  two others from Iran the day before  who were charged for drunk and disorderly behaviour on New Years eve.

The three refugees were arrested around 7:30pm in front of the Splendid shop, in Lorengau town.

Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector David Yapu said two of the men are from Bangladesh while  one is from Burma. They are aged 22, 24 and 26.

PPC Yapu said the three men were drunk and were causing a nuisance in town when police were called in to arrest them. They remain in custody and have not been able to pay police bail.

Manus Provincial Police Commander David Yapu said there were no major incidents in the province during the festive season and thanked the people for keeping peace.

On New Year ’s Eve, two Iranian refugees were arrested at Salasia village after they were reportedly drinking and behaving disorderly in public.

Police had to use ‘reasonable force’ to arrest the men after they resisted arrest.

He also said there was a sexual assault incident during that period involving a minor however a suspect has been arrested.