Gerari speaks out: I wasn’t questioned or charged during logging probe

By HELEN TARAWA
Suspended provincial police commander Chief Inspector Lincoln Gerari was neither questioned nor charged during investigations into logging activities in Collingwood Bay, in Northern, he said.
Gerari said he was only investigated for a sorcery-related murder case which was now before the court.
“They did not question me about the Wanigela case. They did not ask me questions about the police operations at the logging camp,” he said.
“I’ve seen a lot of reports about the Wanigela (logging) case and I’m not happy so I have to clarify this because I have not been charged in relation to that case.
“I have done my duty as a police officer to protect people and the resources.”
About the murder case, he said: “I instructed my men to go and bring the alleged sorcerers for mediation with them.
“How they were beaten up and one died, I have no knowledge of it.”
However, Chief Inspector Charles Winuan, who is in-charge of the Internal Investigation Unit at police headquarters, said Gerari was been charged with attempted murder and illegal confiscation and impounding of Northern Forest Products machinery and equipment without a court order.
Winuan led detectives from Port Moresby to Popondetta to investigate the allegations.
He said the team arrested and charged four police officers – including Gerari – three community-based constables and two reservists with wilful murder.
Gerari said they were first remanded at Biru prison but there was tension among prisoners there and they were moved to the Rice Mill factory near Biru for the night.
In a meeting between the lawyer for the public solicitor, the prosecutors and the court it was decided that they be remanded at the juvenile detention centre near the police station.