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By ELIZABETH MIAE
ANOTHER police officer in West New Britain has been arrested and charged
with 61 counts of arson and one count of wilful murder in relation to
the recent ethnic clash in Kimbe.
Reserve policeman, Thomas Nangu, 31, from Holik No. 2 in Yangoru in East
Sepik province, was hauled in by West New Britain police last Friday.
He is the second police officer to be arrested and charged with the same
crime. The first policeman was arrested last week.
According to West New Britain police, as investigations continue into
the clash that left three people dead and more than 300 people homeless
in August, more policemen are expected to be arrested for their
involvement in the fight.
The clash erupted between the people of Morobe origin from the Mule-Dami
Settlement and people from East Sepik and Simbu provinces settling at
Section 15 Bush Camp and Section 42 in Kimbe town.
A criminal investigation team comprising four members from East New
Britain are currently in Kimbe heading investigations into the alleged
incident that occurred on the early hours of Aug 26 at the Mule-Dami
Block.
Some policemen allegedly armed with firearms, accompanied some civilians
to the Block and fired shots, burnt down houses, killed domestic
animals, destroyed food gardens and killed livestock.
Police said the worth of damage done to properties was about K850.
Nangu had been detained at the Kimbe police station cells and appeared
in the Kimbe Committal Court yesterday morning.
Meanwhile, police said a police officer, who was a prime suspect in the
incident, escaped when the investigation team went to arrest him. He
allegedly boarded a flight two weeks ago to Port Moresby.
 
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