Cops not in court due to election operations

POLICE prosecutor Sgt Chris Iga has told a court that the four policemen charged with assaulting 21-year-old Samuel Naraboi and William Michael were not present in court because they were in Hela for election operations.
Before Waigani Committal Court magistrate Paul Puri Nii yesterday, said all evidence were served on all four of them – Emmanuel Somon, 30, Philemon Parom, 28, Ade Kawa, 29, and Frank Apa, 30.
“To be on the safe side, I will adjourn the case for a month,” Magistrate Nii said.
He said the case would return to court on Aug 9.
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 Driveway.
Naraboi and Michael, 21, were walking towards Waigani Bus Stop after spending a night with a friend.
At the junction at the Games Village Police Barracks, they saw a man by the road selling betel nut.
Naraboi approached the betel nut seller and asked him if he could give him a betel nut. The betel nut seller responded by swearing at Naraboi and Michael.
Police alleged that an off-duty policeman, drove up and spoke with the betel nut seller.
It was alleged that people assisted the unidentified policeman in catching Naraboi.
Naraboi and Michael were admitted to the hospital for injuries caused from the alleged beatings.