Detectives blamed over escape of cop charged with murder

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
POLICE border commander Acting ACP Peter Philip has blamed the police internal affairs detectives for the escape of a policeman charged with murder in West Sepik. “It was the Port Moresby-based detectives who allowed First Constable Kelly Vavena to escape after bringing him to the Public Solicitor’s office in Vanimo,” he said. “They just left him at the office to see his lawyer when they should have kept a watch over him. “The police force spends a huge amount of money to bring these detectives from Port Moresby to investigate the killing that occurred in Aitape last July 25.
“And now Vavena is at large due to the detectives’ carelessness.” Acting ACP Philip said the Vanimo district court issued a warrant of arrest on May 3 for Vavena who did not turn up in court for allegedly shooting dead a man in police custody. Vavena, 38, from Atape’s Warapu villagein, West Sepik, is charged with shooting a murder suspect seven times in the legs in Aitape last July 25. Acting ACP Philip said Vavena with three other policemen went to the Aitape police station lockup and demanded to bring out Jonathan Alai So-ou. So-ou, 29, from Aitape was in custody for the death of a retired public servant, Daniel Maiyu.  “So they opened the door to the cells, removed So-ou and took him out in a vehicle.
While travelling in the vehicle, an argument broke out between Vavena and So-ou.”