Cop charged with knifing vendor and stealing K450

A POLICE constable has been charged with unlawful wounding and stealing in Port Moresby.
Danny Karayo, 30, from Raku village in Kagua, Southern Highlands, was arrested, charged and locked up at the Boroko police cells for unlawfully wounding Simon Makol, a 17-year-old male from Enga.
He was also charged with stealing K450 and other items belonging to Makol.
Police alleged the offences were committed on Feb 8 last year at the 4-Mile Boroko bus stop where Makol was selling betelnut and loose cigarettes.
Police said Karayo, while on duty and accompanied by other policemen, went to the bus stop and dispersed the vendors.
“The complainant was caught and his property, which included K450, 13 packets of cigarette worth K143, betelnut worth K100, two mobile phones and K15 worth of credit in one of the phones, were allegedly confiscated by Karayo,” a police statement read.
Police said Makol was then taken to the police station where he alleged that Karayo stabbed him on the thighs with a kitchen knife.
Police said Karayo denied Makol access to medical treatment while he was in the cells and also denied him access to a telephone.
Police said Karayo was alleged to have refused Makol the right to bail without an explanation after charging the vendor with resisting arrest and being in possession of a kitchen knife.
Police said Makol’s brother, Jack Yange, had asked Karayo to return the mobile phones and money but he refused.
A formal complaint was then lodged with the police internal affairs directorate at Badili on Sept 28 last year by Makol and his family.
The matter was investigated and Karayo was charged.
Police said he was picked up at the Boroko shopping centre area and taken to Badili where he was charged with unlawful wounding and stealing.