Cops warned

 By JEFFREY ELAPA

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill yesterday said he would not condone the actions of rogue policemen armed with high-powered guns going after politicians and leaders under the pretext of doing police duties.

He said he would instruct Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga to discipline those rogue officers for their unwarranted actions against certain members of parliament.

The prime minister was referring to several armed police officers who went to arrest the Western administrator Dr Modowa Gumoi and the officers involved in the issue of arrest warrant on Chuave MP Wera Mori.

Gumoi was arrested over allegations of drawing funds from the Western people’s community mine continuation agreement fund while a warrant of arrest was issued for Mori for alleged misappropriation of funds from the Highlands Highway rehabilitation funds on a project he undertook before he entered Parliament.

The issues were raised by Western Governor Ati Wabiro and Mori during question time in Parliament yesterday that a group of armed policemen were colluding with people with vested interests and malicious intent to arrest leaders.

Mori also claimed that he was the subject of a draconian police investigation, funded by a political interest group. 

He said one of the policeman involved was said to be a director of a few companies set up using development funds by a former MP.

O’Neill said policemen should not be managing development funds.

He said there was no need for police officers armed with high-powered arms terrorising and hunting leaders.

“I do not condone these kinds of actions against leaders,” O’Neill said.

“I will not tolerate these kinds of actions by rogue policemen. There is no need for policemen to be armed to arrest leaders. 

“Our leaders do not tolerate these kinds of actions.

“I will instruct the commissioner to discipline and suspend those rogue police officers and allow investigations to be carried out as their actions to the leaders are not acceptable.” 

O’Neill said there were many good policemen and women doing a good job but it was the actions of few that needed to be brought into line.

The prime minister also said earlier that there was a general decline in police morale and there was a need to rebuild the force that should regain the trust and confidence of the people.

He said police actions had instilled fear in citizens.