Cops face possible criminal charges

 By BEATRICE BONAKOYA 

TWENTY six policemen in Hela are facing possible criminal charges for offences committed while on duty, provincial police commander Michael Welly said.

Welly, who is in Port Moresby to follow up on outstanding investigations and operational matters, told The National yesterday most were related to discipline.

One of the incidents that needed urgent investigation occurred between policemen in Tari last December.

“There was this shooting that happened between the police in Hela but investigation has not been done yet,” he said.

“There was a fight among the policemen themselves and one of the policemen was shot and he’s been hospitalised in Tari. He’s still in hospital.”

Welly said the suspect, another policeman, was still at large.

He met with deputy commissioner of operations Jim Andrews yesterday to discuss some of the issues on manpower lack and accommodation problems that often affected the morale of the officers.  

While funding remained an issue, Welly said manpower was still needed to beef up operations and deal with crime in the three districts – Komo-Margarima, Koroba-Lake Kopiago and Tari-Pori.