PNGDF

Results from the questioning will determine the charges that will be raised against both officers.

 Both officers are currently being questioned by CID at the Boroko Police Station.

More details to come.

PNGDF Brigadier Commander, Gilbert Toropo says that the PNGDF will not tolerate such actions from its soldiers and that those who were involved in the assault of the NCD Metropolitan Superintendent and his men will be dealt with accordingly.

Commander Toropo in support of the call made by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill says firm action will be taken against those individuals who have broken the law and violated their codes of conduct.

Investigations have already begun and once completed, the soldiers will face the full wrath of the law.

“These problems have the potential to impact on the upcoming election as well as the operation of important projects in the area.

“Cabinet has approved a call-out the PNGDF to support Police to conduct security operations in Hela Province.

“Police will have full powers to ensure law and order and to deal with people who seek to cause trouble.

“This includes the immediate arrest of people seeking to initiate violent acts or make threats against Government officials or projects in the province.

The security force will comprise of members of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, the PNG Defence Force, and the Correctional Services.

Both the PNGDF and the CS will contribute 500 personnel each while the RPNG makes up the majority of the security force.

Personnel will be deployed in March to begin its intelligence gathering and surveillance programs of identified hot spot areas prone to violence during election periods. The hot spot areas covers both land and sea (piracy).

PNGDF Commander Gilbert Toropo confirmed this with Loop PNG this morning.

Toropo said he had just received the report this morning regarding the assault from senior people in Madang.

He said such behaviour from the PNGDF Navy is unaccepted and those involved will be dealt with.

He added that his directives are clear and that those involved and caused bodily harm to the businessman will be discharged from the force.

Singirok described the actions by the PNGDF Navy officers as shameful and coward in nature.

The prominent businessman Sai Bodo and his family were assaulted by the soldiers on their way home on Saturday night.

He said the brutal assault on a long time resident of Madang by men in white uniform brings more light to the inner rot and indiscipline in the ranks of the PNGDF.

This assurance was further driven home in a show of force and skill last night at the Sir John Guise stadium when PNG Loop was preview to a special display of close quarter combat and counter terrorism skills from the PNGDF Special Forces division.

Chief of Force Preparation, Colonel Siale Diro explained that the Special Forces have been training with the assistance of Australian, New Zealand and US special Forces for a number of years now.

The three week training was funded by the Australian Defense Force and facilitated by an Australian Company; Explosive Protective Equipment.

Members from the RPNGC, PNGDF and PNGCS who took part and were trained under bomb specialists received certificates of course completion.

Under the Joint Task Force- APEC Security, Defence Corporation Program Lieutenant Colonel Campbell Paine says in terms of the skills, course and training that the officers have done, this is money well spent for the development of this important skill.

This is the start of a three week series of courses being run to prepare the PNGDF combined with the Police and the Correction Service to be able to conduct the task of search of any major event that the country will conduct in the future.

Under the Joint Task Force- APEC Security, Defence Corporation Program Lieutenant Colonel Campbell Paine says this week was basic of search course training  and next week will be a series of training activities that will see the trainees to be team leaders to lead a small group of men to conduct search.

This was revealed by West Sepik Governor Amkat Mai during a high profile visit by the PNGDF Chief of Joint Operations, Colonel Ezekia Wenzel, to the Governor's Office last Wednesday in Vanimo, West Sepik Province.

Mai applauded the soldiers’ effort following a recent intervention at the Wutung border that caught three truckloads of Asian goods, without receipts, that bypassed Customs and were heading into Vanimo Township.

Mai said he is happy that the soldiers intervened and stop the three trucks.