Officers charged over theft, assault

 TWO policemen have been charged with 44 counts of armed robbery and 31 counts of unlawful wounding of 75 men in a settlement in Port Moresby in May.

Metropolitan Supt Andy Bawa said the May 26 incident involved police officers who allegedly attacked the 75 men from Kabwum, in Morobe, using bush knives on their ankles.

Bawa said after two months of investigation, they laid the charges against probationary constable Hilary Weni, attached with the Waigani police station and Constable Steven Siskii, 25, of Bulso village, Lorengau, Manus.

He said the two were at the Boroko police station cells awaiting court appearances.

Bawa said another man was arrested last Thursday over the killing of former Minister Peter Waieng.

He said Ray Atabe, 26, from Roku village, Central, was arrested in connection with the murder and had been refused bail.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill had instigated the investigation into the killing which was led by Deputy Police Commissioner Simon Kauba.