POPONDETTA police have arrested and charged 28 people in Oro province with alcohol-related offences including brewing of homebrew.
Most of those caught are from the settlements and villages located on the outskirts of the provincial capital Popondetta.
Acting provincial police commander Sr Insp Samuel Jamangu said some people in Popondetta had not taken heed of the alcohol ban under the state of emergency and have resorted to the consumption and sale of homebrew.
Insp Jamangu said it was possible the number of people charged would increase because of the prevalence of homebrew in parts of the province.
Two defence force officers – Wesley Gerari and Robert Pa’a – have also been charged under Section 7 (a) of the SoE Act.
Gerari from Popondetta and Pa’a from the Autonomous Bougainville Region are both out on K100 police bail awaiting court appearances.
Both were charged with consuming alcohol.
In recent weeks, police from Port Moresby and the local police conducted raids on some “hot homebrew spots” resulting in the busting and apprehending of people, especially youths.
Most of those who were detained are currently out on police bails awaiting court appearances most probably after the festive season.
Meanwhile, a man from Evore village in the Ioma sub-district was in police custody since last Thursday after he was flown into Popondetta by helicopter in the company of two police investigators and a Defence Force doctor.
Winter Baropa, was charged with wilful killing of his wife and charged under the Criminal Code Act and awaiting court appearance.
Insp Jamangu said Baropa allegedly kicked his wife and mother of three, Kelita Dengo, on her abdomen and other parts of the body.
It was reported that Dengo may have died from fractured spleen soon after the assault.