Cop held over shooting
By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
A POLICEMAN has been detained for investigations into the shooting of a 28-year-old man in Central’s Gaire market on Friday evening.
And National Capital District (NCD)/Central ACP Anthony Wagambie Jr has appealed to Gaire villagers to remain calm and allow police to investigate the alleged shooting by a policeman.
“The policeman was grounded, his firearm and police vehicle have also been taken away,” he said.
“The NCD criminal investigation division’s homicide investigators will conduct interviews tomorrow (today).”
ACP Wagambi said the policeman had made himself available to homicide detectives on Saturday afternoon with his weapon and the police vehicle.
He said police were alerted of the shooting at about 8pm and witnesses gave a description of the police vehicle that helped identify the unit involved in the incident.
“Police attempted to go to the scene to investigate and get more details the same night but could not because of the tension,” he said.
“On Saturday morning, I met with my deputy Laimo Asi and Central police commander Supt John Midi where orders were given for the identified policeman to be brought in.”
ACP Wagambie and Central Governor Robert Agarobe then went to the village to appeal for calm and brief the villagers about the case.
“Tension was extremely high and the villagers only allowed Agarobe in to speak,” he said.
“Police were kept on the other side of the roadblock but we managed to address them.
“Asi and I were then allowed to address the villagers.”
ACP Wagambie said that he told the villagers:
- THAT the police vehicle had been grounded;
- THAT the firearm allegedly used had been confiscated for investigations; and,
- THAT the policeman was now in the Boroko Police Station lock-up awaiting for his statements to be recorded by homicide detectives.
“I told them that if they wanted justice to be served, then they must cooperate by allowing police to attend to the scene, identify witnesses so that statements can be taken,” he said.
“We need statements and evidence for a court file to be submitted.
“I also appealed to them to consider others living along the Magi Highway who also need to travel to and from for various reasons.
“The villagers were cooperative after listening to us and we assured them that everything will be conducted transparently.
“The roadblocks were removed and the highway open for use.”
It was alleged that Billy Iru, from Rigo’s Ginigolo village, was selling mustard when he saw someone he knew sitting in a vehicle nearby.
The vehicle, according to eye witnesses, was alleged to have been part of a unit within the Central command.
Iru was said to have walked up to the vehicle to speak with the man but as he turned to walk away, a shot rang out from inside the vehicle.
The policeman then sped away, leaving a bloody scene and horrified villagers.
Angry villagers then blocked the road, demanding for Agarobe to address them and receive a petition.
Ward members from Gaire and Ginigolo said they were demanding for police to probe the shooting.
Internal affairs directorate Chief Supt Emil Alpha told The National that the disciplinary aspect of the investigations would be determined when evidence revealed how and why the shooting occurred.
5 comments
Another life lost through the hands of police.
PNG police personal are not doing their job as required. Police, killing innocent people in the country is becoming viral. This is the result of recruiting bunch of grade 10’s and 12’s drop out. Start recruiting the professionals so that they can understand their job.
That individual policeman involved is responsible for his own doing…Let him face it himself.
Blaming the Police System would be of no use…police training was not designed to produce rogue policeman…It was the best training given and credit to those hardworking policemen/women who uphold the COE of the Police Force.
T Philip, obviously you have never been a police officer or have never been through the basic police recruit training at Bomana Police College to see and know its very limited scope and consequently the detrimental effects of the severe lack of professionalism and professional standards being displayed by about 90% of the constabulary’s men and women. I have and I know it as an utter failure that must be addressed by the government. Unfortunately, we do not have a well trained police force. Instead, we are stuck with poorly trained force of armed tugs who wear uniforms and call themselves police officers. Even Police investigators are so poorly trained and lack the fundamental intelligence of basic law and investigative techniques to properly investigate, prosecute and try any case successfully if anyone has a competent enough lawyer. Wantok system has wreck havoc in the integrity of the recruitment process as well and all we get is a bunch of incompetent, uneducated and unprofessional thugs in blue uniforms. Recruitment and training standards need drastic improvements by way of a complete overhaul or we will only fool ourselves trying to argue about a few rotten apples in the police force when the entire tree is so deeply rooted in the soil of systematic corruption and dysfunction.
Be aware that ;
The policy culprit will surely hand in a wrong weapon to make it look as if the bullet that hit the deceased did not come from that weapon and that will be his escape strategy. ACP Wagambi should ensure that the forensic test must be conducted transparently to justify that the Bullet really came from the gun the suspect handed in , and have the suspect face justice.
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