Courtroom packed to see officers’ in drowning case

THE LAE District Court was yesterday packed to capacity as people tried take a peek at the five policemen who allegedly forced a man to swim across a lake at night but reportedly drowned.
The policemen, appearing for the first time, were charged with one count each of manslaughter and three counts each of deprivation of liberty. Appearing before the court yesterday were Noel Sine, 39, from Koge village, Sinasina, Chimbu; Heni Meakoro, 34, from Marea village, Ihu, Gulf; Alex Gambe, 26, from Ario village, Sohe, Northern; Francis Dokono, 24, from Serembe village, Sohe, Northern; and, Junior Kore, 24, from Marapeanda village, Lumusa, Western Highlands.
Police report stated that on Jan 20, the five policemen picked up Samuel Kola Khay and two others at Kapiak Street, Boundary Road in Lae and took them to Eriku Raunwara.
It was alleged that Khay and his friends were beaten up and forced to swim across the lake in the middle of Lae.
Khay pleaded to the policemen not to force him to swim because he could not. He was allegedly threatened with a gun and a shot was fired to force him to swim.
The report also alleged that during the time of the incident, all five defendants were under the influence of alcohol.
Senior District Court Magistrate Pious Tapil, after reading the charges to them, consulted the police prosecutor if bail was allowed. However, the prosecutor said under section 4 of the Bail Act, it did not allow for bail, adding it could only be granted by the National Court.
The accused were told by Tapil that the law was supreme and everyone would be treated the same.
“No-one is above the law, you have to be remanded in custody at Buimo until your lawyer can make an application for bail at the National Court,” he said.
“You are policemen and you’re supposed to exercise the rule of law.”