Cops on drugs charges

By MELYNE BAROI
THREE policemen appeared in the Waigani Committal Court yesterday charged with being in possession of and transporting marijuana into the National Capital District from Gulf last year.
Samson Sareng, 36, from Badilu village in Sumkar, Madang, Awi Casmir, 30, from Rofu village in Yangoru-Saussia, East Sepik, and Luke Ena, 34, from Zigori village in Huon Gulf, Morobe, were each arraigned on three charges of official corruption, abuse of office and being in possession of and transporting marijuana.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Christian Iga said that the case was transferred from the Boroko summary court due to a conflict of interest.
Police alleged that on Nov 11, 2021, between midnight and 4.30am First Constable Sareng, Constables Casmir, Ena and Simon Wie were arrested by a police mobile squad along the Trans Hiritano National Highway between Iosipi village, Malalaua, Gulf and Laloki settlement in Central.
Police alleged that the men had a bag of marijuana weighing 32.5 kilograms in their vehicle.
The court heard that the constables were allegedly given K2,800 by some individuals to bring the marijuana into the city.
Police later found out that the vehicle belonged to the Central provincial police and was not approved for hire by the provincial police commander Supt John Midi at the time of the men’s arrest.
According to the police report, the men were employed in the public safety unit of the Central provincial police headquarters.
Furthermore, the four men along with three civilians have an ongoing case in the Kerema District Court for the charge of being in possession of and transporting marijuana.
Their lawyer Nancy Ipame said she would be moving to have the case struck out in Waigani as the individuals had already been charged in Kerema.
In court yesterday, the three men said that their co-accused Simon Wie, 30, from Kerowagi in Chimbu was sick and could not attend court.
Magistrate Nii said Wie would be arraigned at a later date and adjourned the case to Dec 7.