Cops facing trial over murder attempt

By MELYNE BAROI
FOUR policemen charged with attempted murder of the son of a senior constable in Port Moresby have been committed to stand trial in the National Court.
Waigani Committal Court Magistrate Paul Puri Nii told Emmanuel Somon, 30, Philemon Parom, 28, Ade Kawa, 29, and Frank Apa, 30, that police had provided sufficient evidence.
The policemen told the court that their lawyer, David Kayok, was unavailable due to other court commitments.
They refused to say anything regarding a declaration statement after Magistrate Nii made his ruling.
“All of you have two charges of attempted murder and deprivation of liberty while Parom will answer to a third charge of (causing) grievous bodily harm,” Magistrate Nii told the men.
He said the four could find a lawyer to help them with their case on Dec 12 in the National Court.
“Being committed doesn’t mean you are guilty of crime as yet, it just means that I am sending you up to the higher court to plead your case against the police evidence,” he said.
Police alleged that on Feb 27, between 6.30am and 7am, Somon, Parom, Kawa and Apa were seen at the roundabout between the Games Village Police Barracks, Tokarara and Waigani Drive.
Naraboi and William Michael, 21, were walking towards the Waigani bus stop after spending the night with a friend.
Naraboi approached a betel nut seller and asked him if he could spare him a betel nut.
The betel nut seller responded by swearing at Naraboi and Michael.
It was alleged that an off-duty policemen drove up and spoke with the betel nut seller and then started chasing Naraboi and Michael towards the roundabout.
Police alleged that people helped the unidentified policeman chase Naraboi and punched him.
Naraboi fell down at the edge of the traffic island roundabout and the unidentified policeman allegedly started kicking him with his police boots on.
Michael ran towards Naraboi and tried to block off the policeman and the people from assaulting Naraboi but the policeman allegedly grabbed Michael by the collar of his shirt and punched him too.
He also broke Michael’s jaw.
Then a Fox 101 policeman used a fan belt to hook Naraboi’s neck, dragged him on the road, lifted and dumped him into a police vehicle and tortured him for three to four hours.
Naraboi and Michael were admitted to the hospital with serious injuries caused by the alleged assault.