Man attacked during mediation dies

A MAN from Angoram in East Sepik died at Boram General Hospital last weekend after he was allegedly beaten up during a mediation at Angoram Police Station last Friday.
East Sepik police commander Supt Albert Beli said the Angoram Police Station commander had called on the suspects involved to surrender themselves to police and the relatives of the deceased not to retaliate.
Supt Beli said the station’s regular police officers were at Wewak for the commander’s parade last Friday and the station was manned by auxiliary policemen when the incident happened.
In the course of the mediation, the deceased, identified as Marcus Bei, who resided at Kavieng Block near Angoram, was attacked and taken to Wewak for treatment but died last Saturday.
Supt Beli said 15 suspects had been identified by police and were arrested yesterday while three were still on the run.
He added that the arrest of the men had calmed tension in the community.
He said the suspects were all detained at the Angoram Police Station.
“I am not happy with the person who organised the mediation because he did not assess the situation before conducting it,” he said.
Supt Beli said there was a lack of respect for community elders and police officers by members of the community.