Cop summoned over death

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
THE National Court has summoned Madang’s police chief and others to explain how a man died while in their custody last April.
Provincial police commander Supt Mazuc Rubiang, the officer in charge of the Internal Investigations Unit in Madang, the Mamose manager of the Ombudsman Commission and the chief executive officer of the Modilon General Hospital are all expected to appear in court today.
The deceased was Jerry Yareng from Moreng village in the Kote local level government of Finschhafen, Morobe.
Justice Vergil Narokobi wants to determine the circumstances surrounding Yareng’s death and if there were any human rights or freedoms violated.
He also wants to know whether there were other persons apprehended on the same alleged offence and how they were interrogated and treated.
It is understood that Yareng was part of a gang which allegedly robbed a store at the Saidor government station in Rai Coast on March 26.
A team of police officers sent to Saidor arrested some men and brought them to the Jomba police station for questioning.
Yareng was later picked up by police in Madang on April 1 and detained.
On April 2 at about 6pm, Yareng was escorted from the police cell and taken to a private property in Madang town where he was allegedly interrogated and assaulted by police to get a confession out of him.
Yareng suffered serious injuries to his head, legs and other parts of his body.
He was taken back to the cell.
In the early hours of April 3, Yareng collapsed in the cell and was taken to the Modilon General Hospital by police.
He was pronounced dead on arrival.
An official complaint was lodged by Yareng’s brother Jeffery with police.