Officer faces court

By DOROTHY MARK
A SENIOR police officer is facing a murder charge over the alleged shooting to death of a villager in Madang last month.
Inspector Vincent Isanda, the Madang police station commander, is in police custody to await his court appearance.
Provincial police commander Superintendent Jacob Singura said Isanda was charged with one count of wilful murder for allegedly shooting and killing villager Willie Basse at Suaru in Bogia.
“Isanda has been charged with one count of wilful murder and has been detained in the police cell,” Singura said.
“It is up to his lawyer to apply for bail in court.”
Singura said because the alleged killing involved a senior police officer, relatives and members of the public were interested to know how the police would handle it.
According to a police report, Isanda was driving to town from Bogia when he saw Basse walking along the highway after visiting his garden.
Singura surmised the two might have had an argument. Basse died after he was allegedly shot three times.
A police team from Goroka tasked to investigate the incident charged Isanda.
Basse’s death sparked protests which included road blocks by his relatives and fellow villagers.
Singura and Madang Governor Jim Kas managed to persuade them to lift the roadblocks after promising to see that Isanda was investigated and disciplined.
Isanda is from Tangu in Bogia.
He served as a forensic officer based at police headquarters in Port Moresby before he was posted to be the police station commander in Madang.
He is expected to appear in court today.