ALL policemen have a constitutional duty to uphold the law of the land and not to abuse it.
West New Britain acting provincial police commander Insp Joseph Tabali said this in the wake of an incident involving a policeman in the province who is alleged to have torched three houses at Bialla.
The incident happened last Jan 12 between 4pm and 5pm with the policeman, dressed in full uniform, which Insp Tabali referred to as ridiculing the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary.
He condemned the act in the strongest possible terms and said no policeman was above the laws of the country.
“Though they were given the mandate to uphold the laws of this land, these powers do not mean they can act out of their code of conduct and do whatever they want,” Mr Tabali stressed.
In a similar incident earlier this year, The National also reported rogue policemen discharging firearms and behaving offensively at the Nonga General Hospital in East New Britain.
Insp Tabali said he would not tolerate such acts and the policeman who torched down the three houses be prosecuted on charges of arson.
“I do not like this attitude to continue. All policemen have to uphold the laws and maintain order in this country,” he said.
The suspect, said to be a senior police officer attached to the Bialla police post, is expected to be arrested when the investigations were completed.