Police

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.

Manus Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, said Nabi Gulang, aged 30 from Madak in Afghanistan, was earlier charged by Police for dangerous driving causing death and sexual penetration of a minor.

For his recent charge, he appeared in the Lorengau District Court on Wednesday, July 8^th, before Senior Provincial Magistrate, Billy Pidu.

He was found guilty and convicted to six months in hard labour (IHL). He was escorted to CS Lorengau the next day with other convicted prisoners.

The NCD-Central Divisional Command reported that the boy, of Jiwaka and Northern Province parentage, had the drugs on him whilst on board a PMV bus route number 19.

The Boroko Support Units call-sign S450 and S411 also captured a 43-year-old at Taurama Foodland. The man is from Goilala district in Central Province.

Both suspects have now been formally arrested and charged for being in possession of dangerous drug or marijuana and they are detained at the Boroko Police Station awaiting their respective court appearances.

Those three include a killing at Gerehu stage three, another at Six-Mile and one at Badihagwa.

The incidents occurred on Saturday, June 20^th, with the arrest of suspects in the Gerehu and Six-Mile incidents.

“Badihagwa suspects still outstanding,” reported police.

A man also passed away on Saturday from injuries sustained during a fight with students from the Port Moresby Technical College. He died at the Port Moresby General Hospital.

They have been charged with escape from lawful custody.

Twelve prisoners broke out from the overcrowded Lorengau police cells at around 4am.

Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, said the prisoners broke the lock from the inner cells and cut the iron bars with a hacksaw blade.

Yapu said on the day of the escape, two suspects accused of murder and homebrew surrendered to their relatives and were brought back to the Station and locked up in cells.

This recent apprehension means that eight more suspects are yet to be recaptured.