By JAMES APA GUMUNO
POLICE and Immigration officers allegedly assaulted 12 Chinese nationals accused of staying in the country illegally before taking them from Kundiawa, Simbu province, to Mt Hagen, Western Highlands province, on Monday.
Lawyer Toby Bonggere, who is representing some of the 12 Chinese nationals, said the officers assaulted some of the accused very badly and also smashed their mobile phones.
He said it was up to the court to determine whether the accused had committed any offences in the country.
“It is not for these officers to decide,” he told The National yesterday.
Mr Bonggere said some people also took advantage of the situation by trying to loot the shops operated by the accused.
Meanwhile, the Mt Hagen District Court granted bail to two women among the group.
Magistrate Edward Daeb told the 10 men that he would not consider bail for them until their counsel made the application properly.
He rejected their verbal applications and told them to return to court tomorrow.