Petty crimes

In a recent incident on Monday 28 November, a first-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) student from the Divine Word University, was attacked at the Laiwaden Oval at around 10am.

According to the student, Darren Ivarami, he was on his way to visit his uncle, who is the Headmaster of Kusbau Primary School. On his way, he decided to take a breather at the Laiwaden grand stand before proceeding on, it would be a less than 2 minute walk.

Today, concerned members presented a petition to the Lae Metropolitan Superintendent, giving the law enforcers 14 days to respond to their demands.

A petition calling for immediate police action against petty criminals at bus stops was handed to the Lae Metropolitan Superintendent, Chris Kunyanban.

The petition had 712 signatures on paper, while social media support is still pouring in.

The issue is being addressed jointly by Lae police management and the Office of Member for Lae, John Rosso.

“I had called for the removal of new illegal squatter settlements last year. A working committee was set up but it has somewhat slowed down on its efforts. I will again push for this as the bulk of street sellers and petty criminals come from these new illegal settlements,” said Lae metropolitan superintendent, Anthony Wagambie Jnr.

Turi highlighted that the police hierarchy has taken a different approach in dealing with these cases, proving it to be active, causing crime rates to have decreased over sometime.

“However, although the rate is low; crime is inevitable.”

Meanwhile, police are now fully on the go to curb down on this crimes throughout the city and tough measures will be taken to address serious and or petty criminal activities.

Turi says, whilst most of the time the police have been branded with negativity; at times it is brought on by the personnel’s (public) themselves.