Officer in coma

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
A police officer is in a coma at the Vanimo General Hospital after being struck on the head breaking up a pre-New Year party in West Sepik on Saturday.
Provincial police commander Chief Inspector Moses Ibsagi said Constable Jephat Karl was hit from the back with a bush knife and while he was in a stable condition he was being kept in hospital.
“The officer had come across drunks hosting a party near a logging camp to celebrate the New Year in Bewani district,”Ibsagi said.
“The drunks were very noisy and were disturbing the public.”
Ibsagi said the Karl was patrolling the camp when he came across the party.
“He told them not to make a lot of noise, disturb the public. After talking to them, he walked back to his vehicle and didn’t notice a drunken man approaching from behind.
“The man armed with a hard object hit the officer on his head. The officer fell down unconscious and was rushed to the Vanimo General Hospital. He has been stabilised but is still in coma.”
Ibsagi said the suspect was arrested and charged with attempted murder. He is now being detained at the Vanimo Police Station cells.
“Meanwhile, a senior PNG Correctional Services officer’s house was burnt down on Saturday in Vanimo,” he said.
“The house was completely razed to the ground.
“There is no PNG Fire Service in Vanimo to control such fire. We are now investigating the incident.
“Also, three Indonesians have been detained at the Vanimo Police Station for allegedly entering Papua New Guinea to fish illegally in West Sepik waters.
“The joint operations comprising officers from the National Fisheries Authority, PNG Customs, police and PNG Immigration intercepted them on Friday and brought them to Vanimo. We impounded their boat which had a large catch of various fish.”
Ibsagi said that they arrested five Indonesians last week for allegedly smuggling cheap Indonesian-made fuel and selling them to border villagers.
“So far eight Indonesians have been arrested for alleged transnational criminal activities,” he said.