Jiwaka police arrest cop who tried to free detainee

By JAMES APA GUMUNO
POLICE in Jiwaka have arrested a Mt Hagen-based policeman who tried to release Enga election manager David Wakias from the Banz police cell.
Acting Highlands divisional police commander Supt Teddy Tei said police arrested their colleague after he got a court order and tried to release Wakias who was facing charges of misappropriating K500,000.
Tei said the officer, released on a K500 bail, had been accompanied by a defence force personnel  based at Kerowil in Banz.
The two went to the Banz police station and tried to free Wakias.
He said Wakias, 36, from Woginara village, Dagua, East Sepik province, was arrested last Thursday.
The K500,000 he was being questioned on was allocated by the Electoral Commission last August for the common roll update in Jimi, North and South Waghi electorates in Jiwaka province.
Tei commended Jiwaka acting provincial police commander Insp Billy Kombil and his men for a job well done.
Kombil appealed to officials engaged in updating the common roll to return the forms to their respective returning officers in their districts.
The officials are reportedly holding onto the forms because they were yet to be paid their allowances.