Head of Jiwaka authority condemns police action

CHAIRMAN of Jiwaka Transitional Authority Benjamin Mul yesterday condemned the violent actions of the police when members assaulted the chief executive officer, Nicholas Kuman, last weekend.
Members of the Banz, Jimi, Minj and Nondugul police who have since admitted to the assault on Kuman and stoning of the administration building alleged that Kuman had diverted money allocated by JTA to police for Christmas and New Year operations.
Mul told The National yesterday that while he condemned the criminal actions of the police he would also investigate the circumstances complained off which aggravated the officers.
He said he had allocated K300,000 for police operations during Christmas and New Year and now the festive season is over he is surprised that the money has never been spent.
“That money was allocated in November at the first meeting I held as chairman,” Mul said.
“That money was kept in the JTA account and was meant to have been distributed to police.
“I have no control over its disbursement. The signatories to the account are Kuman and the provincial treasurer.
“If it has been diverted or not spent, there must be a good reason for it and it must be revealed to me.
“I will demand an explanation from the CEO.”
At the same time, he decried the actions of the police.
“The police are law enforcers, not law breakers. What they have done here is criminal.
“Police personnel involved must be held accountable and I call upon acting provincial police commander Billy Kombel to isolate those involved and discipline them.
“We are trying to build a new province and those kinds of attitude must never be tolerated whatever the reason.
“The law must be upheld at all times and the police must lead by example.
“I am disappointed to learn that police officers, who are meant to uphold the law, have been involved in assaulting a principal member of the JTA .”
The chairman planned to visit Jiwaka at the weekend for a first-hand briefing on the incident.