Chief upset with police over robbery

 By ARMSTRONG SAIYAMA

EAST Sepik Governor Sir Michael Somare is not happy with the way police handled a robbery in Wewak town on Monday.  

The Tang Mow Supermarket was robbed 

of an undisclosed sum of money by armed men.

Sir Michael said East Sepik police commander Chief Supt Joe Poma should explain how his men had responded to the major robbery in Wewak.  

“This bold act of an armed robbery could only take place when opportunists know that the leadership in the provincial police force is lacking,” he said. 

He added that lawlessness had crept into the province over the past few months. 

“To my knowledge, no requests have been made to my administration by Poma for assistance to curb the rising incidence of crime in the province,” Sir Michael said.  

He called on Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga and Police Minister Nixon Duban to take note.

“I have already expressed dissatisfaction to both their offices last year about the lack of 

interest shown by Poma towards controlling law and order in the province,” Sir Michael said.  

He said the national government had not addressed his request to appoint the new East Sepik police commander.

The governor said he would ask the national government to appoint a East Sepik police commander to address law and order in the province.