By SHEILA LASIBORI
TWO men, including an expatriate, are in police custody after they allegedly traded cartons of alcohol for rice in Oro provincial capital Popondetta.
The Asian was reportedly named as the seller of the four cartons of beer after police caught up with a staff of a major rice distributor Oro.
The duo, who were with other men, were reportedly caught consuming the alcohol. They were taken into custody last Wednesday and have since been out on K100 police bail, awaiting court appearances.
The members of the Port Moresby-based Mobile Squad (MS2) apprehended the men.
Acting provincial police commander Senior Insp Samuel Jamangu confirmed the report yesterday and said the alleged trading of rice for alcohol happened on Monday.
It was reported that the Asian needed to restock rice on the shelves in his shop and agreed to sell the four cartons at K80 each to the staff of the rice distributor, in the hope that rice would be distributed quickly to his shop.
Mr Jamangu said the Asian was charged for allegedly trading alcohol, while the officer and others were for consuming alcohol.
Their actions were totally against the State of Emergency orders.
The shop manager had reportedly stored away the cartons of alcohol as a result of the SoE orders, which included liquor ban, but was reportedly forced to sell to the staff.
The rice distributor’s staff was apprehended for being intoxicated while the shop manager was detained for selling alcohol, an offence against Order No. 1 of the 13 SoE orders issued by Controller Col Vagi Oala last Nov 27.
The order read:
“There will be a ban throughout Oro province on the manufacture, sale, distribution and consumption of liquor except licensed hotels and motels that will be permitted to serve liquor with meals”.