Aircraft fire probe slammed

By MARJORIE FINKEO
INVESTIGATIONS into the burning of an aircraft in Mendi was coordinated by a team from outside and not police from Southern Highlands, police said.
Provincial police commander Inspector Gideon Kauke said Southern Highlands police should not be blamed for the 14 men discharged in court last Friday because of insufficient evidence.
Kauke said the investigation team were sent from Port Moresby, Lae, Mt Hagen and other provinces.
“My senior officers, CID team and the members of Southern Highlands were not included in the investigation and we cannot be blamed for insufficient evidence provided by police,”Kauke said.
He said prosecutors failed to see if there was enough information and evidence to prosecute the alleged offenders or advise the court to extend the time to further look into the matter.
“They cannot blindly blame us because we were not involved with the investigation team,” Kauke said.
He said the investigation took more than four weeks.