By JULIA DAIA BORE
A SENIOR magistrate was allegedly beaten to death by a mob after his car crashed into a makeshift tent occupied by some West Papuans at Ela Beach in Port Moresby last Saturday morning. City police chief Supt Fed Yakasa said initial investigations showed that Ivo Cappo was murdered.
“But whether it was wilful or manslaughter is yet to be established,” he said yesterday afternoon.
Cappo, aged 55, was heading home along Musgrave Road when the accident occurred at about 2am.
His cousin, identified only as John, was injured.
A relative claimed that Cappo was stoned and battered.
Supt Yakasa said Cappo’s vehicle reportedly went out of control and landed “onto the side of the island where the West Papuans had been camped” for the past four weeks.
Following the incident, the West Papuans were moved from the site but Supt Yakasa declined to reveal the location for security and other reasons.
He said it was a delicate matter and had instructed his men to complete the investigation as soon as possible.
Anyone found of wrongdoing would be charged, he said.
It was learnt that Cappos’ relatives intend to submit a petition to the Government, the United Nation’s High Commission for Refuges, the National Capital District Commission, the police and the Indonesian High Commission today.
Nephew Paul Kandi said Cappo would not have been killed if the authorities had handled the West Papuan issue promptly and adequately.
“Instead, they allowed them to camp at a very dangerous spot in the town,” he said.
Cappo had been with the Magisterial Services for 25 years.
He left a wife, nine children and two grandchildren.