Police Brutality

Police officers Joseph Ronnie 29, Sebilen Saluai 32, Mel Taime 25, Wayne Tali 23, Christopher Tokana 34, Wanpis Bone 27 and Fredderic Seri 33 were all charged for murder under Section 300 Subsection 1 of the Criminal Code.

They appeared at the court this morning from custody for the alleged murder of 18-year-old Kimoli Dagoba on the 27^th of November 2023 at Gordons, in what appears to be a police brutality case.

Commander of New Guinea Island Region, Assistant Commissioner of Police Perou Ndranou, confirmed the charges of murder against the officers and announced their suspension from active duty.

According to ACP Ndranou, the officers intercepted the deceased George Mandrau and his friends, Glen Wangisa and Gilla Ponau, suspecting them of a previous robbery.

The trio was reportedly subjected to brutal assault with hard objects at Lorengau police station, resulting in serious injuries to Mandrau. Despite being taken to Lorengau Hospital, he tragically passed away.

A number of people are reported to have been shot at a protest in Lekki, a suburb of the city.

A 24-hour curfew planned for Lagos, a key commercial hub and Africa's most populous city with an estimated 20 million residents, was delayed to allow commuters to return home.

Other regions are now imposing curfews.

Following reports of widespread violence across Nigeria, the city of Jos and Ekiti state said curfews would come into force later on Tuesday.

These were the remarks of Acting Judge Nicholas Miviri of the Kimbe National Court when he recently sentenced a 39-year-old First Constable, attached with the criminal investigation drug squad in Kimbe, to 18 years in jail.

From Simbu, the officer was one of those responsible for a police brutality case, witnessed by the public in the heart of Kimbe town.

Paul Karl, from Kurumugl village, Kundiawa, was part of a group of policemen assisting Kimbe town officials clean the town on 8 April 2011, near Ela Motors, when the deceased, Emil Gare, spit out betelnut.

It is imperative that residents in NCD take note of the process involved for police to step in when a situation requires it.

The Waigani National Court today ordered a total of K398,168 in damages and interest to be paid to Ekip Pade, Bras Dos, Boni Kerowa, James Walua, Pora Mek and Michael Nema.

The men were subjected to police assault at Morata 2 settlement and the Hohola Police Station over four days after they were picked up in the early hours of 27 December 2011 following a raid at Morata.

The raid was conducted by police to pick up suspects implicated in the death of a fellow member of the force who had been killed while on duty several days earlier.

Jefta Monusa of Woginara village in Wewak, East Sepik is facing murder charges in court over the death of man he allegedly assaulted with the assistance of other cops at Gordons market last April.   

Today Magistrate Cosmas Bidar told Monusa in court the evidence against him was enough to show his involvement in the crime, ordering a committal for his case to the National Court for trial.

The ruling came after his lawyer filed submissions in response to police investigation files before the court.

Paita said police brutality has tarnished the good name of the country and nothing has been done to put an end to it.

He pointed out that many times, our people have suffered from the officers who were supposed to be protecting them.

“Our people deserve better rather than get beaten up by the police,” stated the MP.

“We cannot just sit down and see such brutality happening within the force, but need to stand up and defend our people.”

Director for Internal Affairs, Robert Ali, confirmed that after investigations, the main suspected officer was identified and arrested last week.

Dr Newman Berry was returning from Tokarara after dropping his sister off, around 9.30-10pm on Wednesday, May 31, when he was stopped by police and accused of dropping off rascals.

He was brutally assaulted, where he sustained severe head and facial injuries, including psychological trauma.

Jacob Marcos, a journalist with the Department of Health, was forced to hand over his belongings at Pari Village in the National Capital District.

Marcos, a resident at the Doru area in Pari, was capturing the rally of incumbent MP for Moresby South, Justin Tkatchenko, when he was approached by a group.

“The group of men, including a policeman (full name withheld) demanded explanation of why I was recording the event,” Marcos said.