Officers arrest four suspects over assault

 POLICE have arrested four men in connection with the assault on Mamose regional acting police chief Nema Mondiai last Friday in Lae.

Lae police operations commander Insp Fred Kaiwa said the four men were being questioned.

“We are screening them at the moment and appropriate charges will be laid soon,” Kaiwa said. 

Mondiai confirmed he was attacked by a group of men between Bumayong and Malahang.

He however said a report in this newspaper on the incident implied that he was doing something illegal in the area when he got attacked.

“I did not go anywhere but was driving on the main road,” Mondiai said.

He has instructed police officers not to raid the area or burn down houses.

“I think I have handled the situation maturely. I told my men not to burn down houses or start chasing people,” Mondiai said.

“Most of the people are innocent and they will be affected if that was the case.”

Mondiai could not give details about his attack, saying an official statement would be released by his media officer.

He said he needed to issue an official statement to clear the air on the issue because some might query what he was doing in the area.

Mondiai’s media officer Bustin Anzu could not be reached for comment yesterday. 

This is the second time a senior police officer was attacked in Lae by thugs.

In 2008, former Mamose ACP Giosi Labi was stabbed by criminals at Voco Point.