Bail refused for 7 cops

By BEVERLY PETER
THE National Court has refused bail for seven policemen charged in relation to the death of a teenaged boy in Port Moresby in November, because of the seriousness of the matter.
Judge Nicholas Miviri told the court at Waigani that the alleged crime was committed when the seven were in police uniform and armed with guns.
“These applicants were wearing police uniforms, coming with a rifle and a shotgun in a police vehicle, took in the deceased Kimorly Dagoba and 11 others,” Miviri said.
The seven policemen are Christopher Tokana, Wayne Tali, Fredrick Seri, Joseph Ronnie, Mel Taime, Wanis Bone and Sebilen Saluai.
The court was told that on the night of Nov 28, 2023, they stopped Dagoba and his friend in a vehicle at Four-Mile after finding alcohol in their car.
As they were being driven to the Gordon police station, Dagoba and eight others siting at the back of the vehicle allegedly jumped off and ran away.
It is alleged that the policemen chased and assaulted them, resulting in Dagoba’s death. His body was found in the drain opposite the Gordon Market at around 5am.
Justice Miviri said that the arresting officer’s affidavit showed the use of threats and violence in the assault.
“The facts in the affidavit together with the information do not call for bail,” he said.
He added that the guarantors in their affidavits did not say what they would do to keep the community safe as the lives of the policemen would be at risk if bail was granted.
He ordered that Tokana, Tali, Seri, Ronnie, Taime, Bone and Saluai be further remanded in prison while awaiting their case to be called in in the committal court.