Men: Cops beat us in motel

By JUNIOR UKAHA
FIVE men have been hospitalised with serious injuries and property worth thousands of kina destroyed after armed policemen stormed a motel in Port Moresby over the weekend.
The incident happened between 1am and 3am on Saturday after an off-duty policeman from the 6-Mile police station damaged a poker machine at the Granville Motel and was assaulted by the hotel’s security guards.
The constable was reportedly intoxicated with alcohol. 
Ben Nimambo, the motel’s accountant and a key witness to the incident, said after damaging the poker machine the officer allegedly assaulted a relative of his at the motel.
“Security guards and other guests at the motel reacted by chasing him to the 6-Mile  police station,” Nimambo said.
National Capital District metropolitan commander Supt Peter Guinness confirmed the incident.
“NBC ran a story on it and I am aware of the matter,” he said.
The officer took refuge in the police station and locked the door but the mob, numbering more than 40, allegedly hurled rocks at the building and smashed louvres and a glass frame at the door, police claimed.
A number of stools belonging to police were destroyed, officers at the station claimed yesterday.
The policeman, identified as Paul Simon from Chimbu, then radioed for reinforcements and vehicle loads of policemen from the NCD command surrounded the motel, eyewitnesses said.
Granville in-house lawyer Michael Aglum, who was at the scene to calm the situation, claimed he was fired at three times at close range by an officer.
“A pellet hit my hand,” he said.
Aglum said rapid shots were fired into the air and guards, clients and staff at the hotel were beaten by the policemen.
Nimambo said five people were injured after they were hit with gun butts and kicked.
“Four of them are clients here while one is our staff member,” he said.
“I called the police station commander Brian Kombe.
“And he came and defused the situation.”
The motel said among the items destroyed were a poker machine worth K40,000, a magnetic door swipe card machine worth K151,000 and hotel furniture including a number of light bulbs.
“An investigation into the matter will be carried out,” Guinness said.
“Attack on the police station shows that they have no respect for state properties.
“If they think that this particular policeman is wrong they should deal with him and not destroy the police station.”
Police said four men who allegedly damaged the police station were arrested and detained.
The officer who instigated the incident was reportedly suspended pending an investigation.
The motel management said the action by the policemen was unprofessional and demanded immediate action from their hierarchy.
Aglum said police brutality had become a norm throughout the country and it was time politicians and parliament intervened at the highest level and prevented further occurrences.