Police

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.

Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, said 27-year-old police woman, Sharon Wamuni, from Numangua village, Ambunti in East Sepik, was arrested and charged for aiding the prisoner.

PPC Yapu said the officer was on duty from 8am - 4pm, where she went to the police cells and unlocked the cell block. She let Job Pobress come out of the cells to fetch water when he took advantage of the situation and fled.

Manus Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, said a 50-year-old man, his 18-year-old son and 14-year-old nephew from Maso ward on Bipi Island, left on a 19-footer boat powered by a 40HP engine to western reef to dive for beche-de-mer. They were supposed to return the next day but after a no-show, the wife raised the alarm.

“A search by villagers was conducted for the trio but they could not locate them. Police were contacted and assisted with the search,” said the PPC.

Police reported that a PMV truck with its 13 passengers was heading towards Lorengau town when it veered off road and crashed into a power pole on Saturday, August 22^nd.

The vehicle then turned over, where five of its passengers sustained broken legs and hands including injuries to their heads and ribs.

Three of the thirteen passengers were treated for minor injuries and discharged whilst 10 are still admitted at the Lorengau General Hospital.

One of them was Aina Jerry, who allegedly died from injuries he sustained from the beatings he took.

On Tuesday July 21^st, two of them, George Ona and Oscar Peter, came out in the media and gave their side of the story.

“Taim Aina kam lo Mosbi, em bin gat rasta. Lo Wednesday em tok mitla ba go lo baba lo Fo-Mail lo katim gras,” Ona recalled.

This was the update received following this morning’s protest by residents of the Okapa block over the alleged beating and death of a teenager by members of the police attached to the Six-Mile command.

On the other hand, four community leaders of the Okapa Block at Saraga Settlement are currently in police custody at the Six-Mile police station holding cell, as a result.

Police pulled in on protesters along the Saraga road, stopping them from bringing the body of late Aina Jerry to the Six-Mile police station.

Before being met by police, Peter Gary, an anti-corruption activist, and relative of late Jerry said police must take responsibility for this death.

“Police how ol i laik hendolim na putim long wanem kain mog, lo tri mail o ol i laik putim go long funeral home, em responsibility blong state,” Gary stated.

Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, said on June 30^th, the suspects from Ponam Island in PNKA, allegedly forced the 11-year-old victim to the beach and took turns to sexually penetrate her.

The incident was reported to police by the victim’s father, where a team of CID officers travelled to Ponam Island and arrested them.

They are in police custody pending further CID investigation.

In another incident, a man was arrested and charged for the persistent sexual abuse of his nephew.