Cops, soldiers allegedly involved in man’s death: Lakari

The National Main Stories

By ELIAS LARI
A 50-year-old man from Nipa in Southern Highlands was chopped to death at Nipa Station about a week ago allegedly with the help of police and soldiers, police say.
Southern Highlands police commander Chief Supt Martin Lakari confirmed the murder of Awe Hep, from Kware village in Nipa, and called on the suspects and members of the disciplined forces involved to surrender.
He said the killing allegedly involved members of the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF) and police who may have acted on a personal issue or over a family entitlement claims.
Chief Supt Lakari said the prime suspect in the killing was a member of the PNGDF from Enga.
He said some policemen, also from Enga, were allegedly involved in the killing.
He said Hep was an employee of Oil Search and was at home at that time when he was confronted and chopped.
Chief Supt Lakari said the suspects were known to police in Southern Highlands.
He said police in Southern Highlands were liaising with Enga police to bring in the suspects to the Mendi police station.
He condemned the killing and said such crimes should not be committed by members of the disciplined forces.
“The prime suspect is a son of a senior police officer in Enga,” Chief Supt Lakari said. “(And) that is where members of the disciplined forces could be involved,” he added.
“The father is also a person of interest in this investigation.”

17 comments

  • How can these socalled law enforcers supposed to uphold the constitutional law of our country yet tend to take the law in to their own hands by assist in the murder of this poor old man.Now lets see how the commissioner of these join forces take actions and deal with their man?????? very sory for the poor old man..

  • Southern Highlands police commander Chief Supt Martin Lakari confirmed the murder of Awe Hep, from Kware village in Nip. “He said the killing allegedly involved members of the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF) and police who may have acted on a personal issue or over a family entitlement claims”
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………
    POLICE AND PNGDF ARE NOT ALLOWED TO KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE SO LAW WILL DEAL WITH THEM.
    SORRY FOR THAT OLD MAN.
    MAY SOUL REST IN PEACE

  • Disgrace to the uniform they wear and the oath they took to serve, protect and defend PNG.

    Make an example of these murderer.

  • My goodness forsake if the number of law enforcers were involved in the killing of the poor innocent elderly man, I am scared that every innocent citizen of this nation will be wiped out. Our trusted law enforcers have now turned out into criminals and terrorists. Before things get out of hand the police hierarchy and military force put those perpetrators into life year imprisonment. Very sadly take back PNG has been twisted putting a big shame on the current Marabe Basil government.
    On to your hands as the Nipa tribe is waiting to hear your immediate action

  • This is the result of recruiting criminals and bandits from the streets through nepotism and bribery!

  • Agree with you Terry
    Just dont forget the recently uncovered rogue recruitments in the disciplinary forces which may have been going on for years including the lack of command…
    Very sad but we need smart and strong leadership in all levels of command to maintain control and re-instill integrity thus bringing back our trust in our very own disciplinary forces…

    Sorry for the old man – RIEP

  • The government has spent so much and beyond for the actions of such bastards!! instead long service kam long ples, the actions of the so called law enforcers have drained and is draining more tax payers moneys. Can the government do something on this? The policies or laws have been created by human beings to suit human beings so please senisim ol displa policy wea gavman wok long karim hevi blong ol law enforcers. How bai yumi stopim ol rot wea planti moni blong developing kantri wok long go?..’Let the perpetrator face the full consequence’ N save the tax payers money for the development of the country.

    My heart felt condolence to the oldman of SHP

  • Stop saying old man…the deceased was a man in the prime of his life at 50 and maybe had another 30 or 50 years left to live. Sad day and great loss for his family and our country.

  • Brian Kramer. PNG is looking to you. Terminate n send them to prison. They r not fit to wear their uniform.

  • We’ve heard it before and continue to hear of misbehaving by the disciplinary forces and will continue for goodness knows how long. Change laws to make individual officers responsible for their actions if found guilty. They continue to be a liability to the government.

  • It is better for proper investigation to conclude before the PPC SHP starts commenting in the media.There are two sides to a coin.The Highlands region is a very hard place to police so it better to reserve your comments. Most of us have never been to some parts of the Highlands to physical witness or experience the hostility or risk our policeman and soldiers have to go through to maintain law and order compared to other places in PNG.

  • This seems to be a family issue, there must be connection between the deceased the culprits, why it happened, how it happened,there is always an answer, lets put it into the law hands, they are the only ones who can give us best solution to such a problem like this………

  • SHP enough of payback killings. Bring back peace once we enjoyed in the 70s. There is no profit in such senseless and horrific attacks and killings. Come to your right senses and have peace prevail and allow rules of law apply in all seriousness of issues. It’s a shame if one our educated elite is involved in killing. It’s not appropriate for this time and age.

  • Very sad to hear story of members of the discipline force to kill one innocent civil,they main task or duty is to protect lives and properties of the state,can the police commissioner of police PNGDF commander to act quickly and investigate and arrest the responsible officers from both discipline forces,citizens of the PNG don’t have trust in our discipline forces now,it cost a lot of money for the state to pay compensations to relatives,this officers are liability to the state,over to RPNGC commissioner and PNGDFcommander.

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