K3m compensation over death unreasonable: Welly

By LUKE KAMA
HELA Police Commander Michael Welly says a K3 million compensation demand by the people of Poroma over the death of their tribesman in a road accident is unreasonable and defies common sense.
Welly told The National that the peace-and-good-order committee from Hela and Southern Highlands needed to revisit their mediation decision and come to a reasonable compensation demand.
“The K3 million compensation demand is just unreasonable and was never done or experienced in the country. It is just outrageous,” he said. “I will advise the peace and good order committee from Hela and Southern Highlands to revisit their decision.”
Meanwhile, 10 trucks owned by Trans Wonderland Limited carrying supplies to the PNG LNG project are being held up at Poroma by relatives of Nason Philip who was killed in a road accident by a car driven by a person from Angore in Hela.
TWL managing director Larry Andagali said the company had nothing to do with the accident and the compensation demand.
He said the holding up of his truck was a criminal offence which police and the government must deal with. The trucks had been held up since November 15.
Welly said police were still negotiating with the Poroma people to release the trucks.