Police

Investigations are underway both by the police Internal Investigation Unit and NCD police as apparently it involved NCDC police.

“The role of police is to mediate and resolve conflicts in a peaceful manner, and we are seeing situations where this is not the case.

“We appreciate the work of police who are doing their best to maintain peace and order in our communities.

“But there are a few Police that are not using reasonable means to address challenges they face and they jump into situations where they are trigger happy.

Eluh and Gitua filed two separate judicial reviews in October last year following their termination over disciplinary reasons on September 23 and 28 respectively.

Their terminations have been stayed since Oct 30, 2015, pending the outcome of this review.

A trial date has been set for Oct 7 that will come before Justice Collin Makail in the National Court.

Review books were filed by parties on Wednesday this week. The trial will be conducted by way of affidavits or statements and arguments in court. No witnesses will be called to give evidence.

Papua New Guinea’s capital Port Moresby will host the APEC leaders’ summit and will be the biggest security test for the country since gaining independence in 1975.

PPC Gesa told Loop PNG in Vanimo that security must not only be concentrated in Port Moresby because any person can cross into the unmanned borders of Sandaun and Western provinces and travel to Port Moresby and stage an attack.  

He also revealed that intelligence officers from Papua New Guinea and Australia visited Vanimo on a fact finding mission this week.   

 The 38-year-old Jeffery Sheekiot of Sumusamu village, Bogia, Madang was brought to appear in court yesterday following his arrest on July 28 in Port Moresby.

Sheekiot is alleged to be among a group of police officers who conducted a raid at Tatana village early last year while investigating the murder of another man, the late Harold Farapo. During the raid, he in the company of others allegedly shot the late Saleh Naime Tom, also known as Charlie Naime.

In receiving the court decision today, Pala said he is humbled at the decision of the Supreme Court which found that the warrant issued for his arrest from June 2014 was defective.

A three-man Supreme Court bench today declared that warrant void and of no effect, quashing his committal court proceeding that stems from that warrant. The warrant was taken out by Director of Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate Matthew Damaru at the District Court.

The vehicle, a ten seater Toyota Land Cruiser with plate number HAP 139 was parked at the residence of the Program Manager for Provincial Division of Primary Industry (DPI) when it was taken.

Program Manager Umar Nuka told Loop PNG news that it was an unfortunate situation adding that it was the only vehicle that was used to execute all the DPI programs in Jiwaka.

Bidar made these statements this morning when he adjourned the case of Probationary police officers, 22-year-old Joshua Yawijah of Maia village, Pangia, Southern Highlands Province, and 23-year-old Jacklyn Tanda of Sakarip village, Wabag, Enga Province for two weeks.

“This case started in January this year and we are now going into the seventh month. We must finalise this case,” he told the lawyer representing the two police officers and the police prosecution team.

This morning, lawyer for the UPNG SRC president and student leaders, Laken Lepatu Aigilo, moved an application before Justice Derek Hartshorn.

The human rights application stems out of the June 8 shooting by police on UPNG campus and was filed under section 57 and 155 of the Constitution.

The application substantively seeks a declaration and permanent injunction against NCD metropolitan superintendent Ben Turi, NCD/Central Commander Sylvester Kalaut, Police Commissioner Gari Baki and the State.

Loop PNG was informed by a policeman that the situation is now under control.

He said policemen are now concentrating the manpower at Morata to stop fighting which as spilled over from the students protest.

Meanwhile, Police confirmed that the burning of the truck outside UPNG campus is the work of opportunists.

He said such arrests and detainment is uncalled for in a democratic country like PNG; it is unlawful and might lead to chaos in the country.

“Students should not be locked up in prison.”

Polye said the students were just practicing their rights to do awareness and inform their parents and the people of the nation about issues affecting the country.

“For the police to lock them up in cells is uncalled for and morally wrong.”

Polye is calling on Police Commissioner Gari Baki to direct his police commander in Wewak, East Sepik, to release the students.