Police

Police officers from Kerevat and Tomaringa have been manning the New Britain Highway on a 24-hour basis since the commencement of the lockdown on January 8^th. Apart from the highway, the police personnel have been monitoring the sea as well.

The Inland Baining local Level Government, under the Gazelle District Administrator, John Wartovo, carried out surveillance and conducted awareness within the main COVID-19 checkpoint at Vunapalading and Open Bay.

Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, said between 11.40pm on Dec 31, 2020, and 12.01am on January 1^st, 2021, five armed suspects with three homemade guns and a crowbar, held up the hospital’s security guards and forced open the door to the ATM.

They smashed the glass of the machine open to steal the cash however, were prevented from accessing it by the machine’s electronic security system.

PPC Yapu said the suspects, when figuring out that any further attempt would be futile, escaped on foot to the back of hospital and into the bush.

Among those apprehended were 14 juveniles and two female suspects.

Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, said the conflict stemmed from some outstanding issues in the past.

One of the group leaders mobilised his members and went to the house of another group leader who was a ward councillor.

Armed with sticks, stones and anything they could lay their hands on, the first group yelled obscenities at the ward councillor’s house. The PPC said the ward councillor and his group then retaliated in response.

Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, said his members will be working around the clock to ensure the people celebrated the Christmas and New Year peacefully.

They will be conducting the following:

Manus Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, gave a strong warning after a youth was arrested and charged for allegedly killing his peer.

The 18-year-old from Baluan Island, Balopa LLG, was charged with the killing of Anley Musio.

Yapu said the incident occurred in the early hours of Friday November 6^th at ward 7, Lorengu town, during a drinking session.

Police reported that an argument over alcohol started between the suspect and deceased.

Commander of NCD/Central, Anthony Wagambie Jnr, gave this update following a protest by relatives in front of the Boroko Police Station on Wednesday, November 11^th.

Wagambie Jnr, in a statement, said the situation stemmed from an incident on Tuesday, November 10^th.

“From Police reports, a patrol unit had spotted an overloaded 25-seater PMV along Nine-Mile,” he stated. “The unit had tried to stop the PMV, however the driver refused to stop and was chased by the Police Unit to the back of ATS and Malolo Estate.

Police in Manus reported that a 16-year-old girl was gang raped by three young men after returning home after the Grade Eight National Examination on Thursday November 5^th at ward three, Lorengau town.

Manus Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, said the victim was using a shortcut to her house between 2 and 3pm when she was confronted by the drunken suspects.

The new Milne Bay Provincial Police Commander is pushing for a new-look, well-disciplined force if they are to tackle the tremendous challenge of law and order.

Peter Barkie took up the post in July and is working to restore command and control in a force that, in the past few years, has done more damage than the criminals in Alotau.

When speaking to this newsroom, PPC Barkie described the island province’s law and order situation as “out of control”.

Commander of NCD/Central and Assistant Commissioner Anthony Wagambie Junior said the Policing the Police Task Force Team has now taken carriage of this matter after it caught the attention of the RPNGC management.

The suspect and victim of the alleged police abuse, identified as Alex Toh Buka, 23 years old, from Avi village, Anglimp in Jiwaka Province, was not formally charged as of yesterday and was released from police custody last night.

PPC Manus, Chief Inspector David Yapu, said the prisoner, named Wendol Agua, aged 24 of Likum village in Pobuma LLG, Lorengau, escaped from police custody and was on the run until October 6^th.

Agua escaped after he was sentenced by the Lorengau National Court on the 10^th of April to serve 30 years in hard labour, where he would be discharged on the 9^th of April, 2049.

Yapu further appealed to the people and community in Manus Province to assist police and provide information on those escapees who are still on the run.