Dismissed recruits arrested, charged

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
Eight police recruits dismissed in 2017 have been arrested and charged for returning to Bomana Police Training College in police uniforms, college commandant Peter Philip says.
Philip said yesterday the former recruits returned to the college on Friday dressed in police-issued boots and belts.
“They had returned for me to take them in to finish off their basic training,” he said.
“They told me that the National Court had quashed my decision for dismissing them in 2017.
“They were dismissed for drinking alcohol at the college.”
Philip said the recruits were each charged with one count of unauthorised wearing of police uniforms.
“They have been detained and were all allowed bail of K300 each,” he said.
“They are expected to appear before the Boroko District Court this week.”
Philip also said the suspects were not allowed to take the uniforms with them after they were dismissed.
“We ordered them to return the uniforms but they took them away,” he said.
“They turned up before me to reinstate them back to complete their training as advised by their lawyer.”
Their lawyer Jimmy Apo, in a letter dated Jan 7, 2019, to the Office of the Solicitor-General , said Justice Leka Nablu had granted his clients a judicial review on Dec 19, 2018, in their favour, although the written decision were yet to be published.
“The court has quashed all of the decisions to terminate the plaintiffs dated Oct 17, 2017,” he said.
“The plaintiffs have completed training and were only awaiting their pass out ceremony when they were terminated.”
Apo said that there were no witnesses to confirm allegations of his clients consuming alcohol.
“The college standing order is built around opportunity, second chance and final warning,” he said.
“These young men have never committed any serious offences before.
“They have learnt their lessons and the experience will make them become better persons in their lives and careers.”
Apo said that they would appreciate if the solicitor-general would endorse their views and advise the police commissioner and college commandant to take in his clients this month.