Don’t let compensation interfere with police work: Ikumu

NATIONAL Capital District Met Supt Gideon Ikumu is cracking the whip at compensation demands, which he said, were being treated as a form of restitution for indictable offences such as rape, armed robbery, murder and other serious crimes.
Acting Chief Supt Ikumu said more awareness would have to be done within the law and justice sector to make people aware of the functions of police, the investigative processes, prosecution and the court systems.
He said people should understand that local customs and traditions relating to compensation were merely intended to keep the peace or “bel kol” within the community but police investigations and the criminal justice system must continue unabated and could not be interrupted or compromised. Acting Chief Supt Ikumu said the accused person(s) would have to stand trial, and it is up to the courts to either convict or acquit them.
He said this after some grief-stricken relatives of the victims of a recent motor vehicle crash along the Independence Boulevard in Waigani, Port Moresby, approached some police officers demanding the department to pay some money to the families of those who were either injured or killed in the accident.
Acting Chief Supt Ikumu said such demands amounted to acts of intimidation and threats, which could be deemed as criminal offences.
A Toyota Land Cruiser driven by a policeman collided with a PMV bus at the intersection, instantly killing a baby and leaving nine adults critically injured. Acting Chief Supt Ikumu said the policeman was arrested and criminally charged.
He said the policeman would face the justice system.
He said the aftermath of the tragedy was heart-wrenching but the aggrieved relatives of the dead and injured victims would have to pursue their claims for compensation from the motor vehicle insurers.