Cops given time to prepare defence

The National National

By GEORGINA KOREI
WAIGANI Committal Court Magistrate Paul Puri Nii has given a week for four policemen charged with the attempted murder of Samuel Naraboi to present their defence submissions.
Public Solicitor’s Office lawyer David Kayok, representing the policemen, asked the court to give him a week, so he could consult his clients before presenting the submissions.
“I have completed the defence submissions, but needed a week to talk with the defendants before making submissions,” Kayok said.
All four policemen — Emmanuel Somon, 30, Philemon Parom, 28, Ade Kawa, 29, and Frank Apa, 30 — were in court.
Magistrate Nii adjourned the case to Tuesday and extended their bail.
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 in Port Moresby.
Naraboi and William Michael, 21, were walking towards the Waigani bus stop after spending the night with a friend.
Naraboi allegedly approached a betelnut seller and asked him if he could spare him a betelnut.
The betelnut seller allegedly swore at Naraboi and Michael.
It was alleged that an off-duty policeman drove up and spoke with the betelnut 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 allegedly fell down at the edge of the traffic island at the roundabout and the unidentified policeman allegedly started kicking him with his boots.
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 allegedly broke Michael’s jaw.
A Fox 101 policeman allegedly used a fan belt to drag Naraboi by the neck, lifted him and threw him into a police vehicle and tortured him for three to four hours.
Naraboi and Michael were admitted to the hospital for serious injuries from the alleged assault.