Crackdown on trafficking suspects

SUSPECTS involved in trafficking six young women from Central to Chimbu that resulted in one of them being raped, will be arrested, Asst Comm of Police for crimes Hodges Ette says.
He said those involved in the incident would be arrested after the National Court sentenced Willie Gare, 47, of Korokoa village, Gumine, Chimbu, to a total of 40 years.
Gare was sentenced, in absentia, last Dec 27; he was convicted of 20 years for human trafficking and 20 years for raping one of the women.
ACP Ette said Gare went into hiding before he could be brought to justice and police were searching for him.
He said the case was a first of its kind in PNG and the judiciary had to show the international community that the country was serious in addressing human trafficking.
Gare allegedly transported a group of female and male dancers from Central to perform at the opening of his lodge located along Gumine Road outside Kundiawa town.
He worked with his cousin, Anna Tiene, who is married to a man from Boera village in Central, to organise the women who were taken by Gare and two police officers to Chimbu in July 2015. Gare convinced the parents of the women to release them to him after he paid them.