Kramer expects to be arrested

POLICE Minister Bryan Kramer, pictured, is ready to be questioned by police, if they want to, over at least two complaints lodged against him.
Kramer said in a statement posted on his social media page yesterday that he had received “intelligence reports within political circles, police ranks and security forces” of plans to have him arrested and charged.
“Certain high ranking officers within the police force are planning my arrest,” he said.
He suspects that the complaints could have been the ones lodged by former prime minister Peter O’Neill and a journalist.
“There can be no question of doubt if certain members of the police force wish to bring charges against me.
“It is their constitutional right to do so, provided of course they have sufficient grounds based on credible evidence,” he said. Kramer said he would not go into hiding or run to the court to seek restraining orders which he said some MPs did in the past.
Kramer said he would readily make himself available for an interview by police “at the nearest police station”.
“Unlike what happened in 2014, they won’t have to deploy 14 uniformed officers to hunt me down to lock me up,” he said.
Kramer suspects that “people in high places are deeply concerned” following his instruction to Gari Baki last Friday to vacate the police commissioner’s office.
Baki is to be replaced by Francis Tokura who will be acting police commissioner, supported by assistant commissioners Peter Guinness (operations) and Joanne Clarkson (administration).
Kramer expects police to “arrest and charge” him this week.
“My concern will not be so much about my safety but the safety of the members of the force,” he said.
“When word of my arrest goes public to the 800,000 residents in the national capital or millions of people throughout the country, one would expect an immediate response.
“My concern is that tens of thousands of people will converge on police stations around the city in protest. At that point I will not be in a position to guarantee any officer’s safety or public safety.”
Kramer said there were only a “handful of corrupt officers” in the constabulary.
“I have absolute confidence in the remaining 7000+ plus officers who respect and uphold the rule of law and wear their uniform with pride and distinction,” he said.
Kramer said he accepted to be the police minister “with the genuine intention to address the many issues facing our men and women in blue as well as improve general safety of the public”.
“Unfortunately many members of the public have come to fear and resent the police force,” he said.
“One can’t blame them given many have been victims of police brutality, or lost loved ones to unlawful shootings or subjected to verbal threats, extortion and intimidation.”