21 suspects in Mendi mayhem arrested

By JACKLYN SIRIAS
TWENTY-ONE people allegedly involved in causing mayhem in Southern Highlands on June 14 have been arrested, Police Commissioner Gari Baki says.
Baki told a press conference in Port Moresby yesterday that a team of 200 police officers were in Mendi to continue investigations into the burning of a Link PNG DHC 8 aircraft, the court house and the governor’s house following a court decision over an election petition.
“Each of them have been charged with eight counts of arson and one count of rioting that will bring the total charges up to nine for individual suspects,” he said.
Baki urged support from local communities and leaders in the investigation to have people involved held accountable for their criminal deeds.
“It is important to note that the concepts of the operation up there is not the normal police operations that we do where we deploy a large number of operational police personnel to go inside there and deal with the situation,” Baki said.
He said the particular operation was basically investigation driven.
“So the majority and a large number of personnel that are currently in Mendi are members of the criminal investigations drawn from other parts of the country, including Port Moresby, to make up the team.”
Baki said when the team went there, there were five crime scenes that had been identified. But the crime investigation is now extended to the 29th. Baki said initially 14 people were arrested and an additional seven were recently arrested. More arrests are expected to be made, he said.
He said the purpose of the investigation was simply to restore peace and normalcy.
Baki acknowledged the support of the security forces, including the military.
Baki said their biggest challenge was to get those arrested to Mt Hagen to await court proceedings because Mendi did not have any court.
“This widens our efforts to ensure that additional security is provided for our officers while they are travelling to Mt Hagen and at the same time ensuring that the suspects are being taken to court.”
Baki said they had received information that their personnel were targets of being kidnapping the relatives of the suspects.
“Despite the fact that threats been levelled against our men, nothing will stop the police from doing their jobs.
“We will take every precaution necessary to ensure that the investigation is completed at the earliest so that we deal with those who have been arrested and taken to court and allow the court processes to take their course.”