Man dies in cell after assault

By ROSELYN ELLISON
A MAN who allegedly pretended to be a policeman, assaulted a man in a police station so badly that he died later in a cell, police said.
Salias Mila, 31, from Matupit village in Rabaul, is facing a charge of wilful murder and two of impersonating a police officer in Rabaul, East New Britain.
He is expected to appear in court this week.
According to ENB police commander Chief Insp Joseph Tabali, Mila was arrested and charged on Monday. Police alleged that he was pretending to be a police officer on Dec 4, 2018, at around 10pm and drove a marked police vehicle to attend to a complaint and arrested a man.
Chief Insp Tabali said Mila started attacking the man from Burma Road, Raluan number one village, and took him to the Rabaul police station. He said the arrested man was continuously beaten by Mila at the station and later locked up in a cell.
Police reports stated that the man had received grievous bodily harm and died in the cell.
“Under Section 239, 224 and 4881 of the Criminal Code Act, the suspect was arrested and charged with impersonating a police officer and for wilful murder,” Chief Insp Tabali said.
He added that he had refused bail for Mila, who was locked up and would appear in court this week.
Chief Insp Tabali said police were continuing their investigation into the matter.