Officers to appear in court

 By  Michael Ricky Guba  

More than 15 police officers will be appearing in the Waigani Committal court this week for separate criminal charges laid against them, NCD Met Supt Benjamin Turi says. 

Turi said the officers were arrested and charged for offences such as being in possession of illegal firearms, rape, assault from December 2015 to January 2016.

“Around 15 to 20 police officers will be appearing before the committal courts from Feb 8-11,” Turi said. 

“Most of the officers were arrested and charged since the 2015 Christmas period up until January 2016 and some are still under investigation for criminal cases.”

Turi said two officers were expected to appear in the committal courts on February 9 and 11 respectively for illegally being in possession of exhibit firearms. 

They were arrested and charged after they failed to declare the firearms they were in possession of. 

Turi said one of them would be re-arrested and charged after his appearance in court on the February 11 in relation to another firearm which was in his possession. 

“Firearms declaration is still on. Anyone caught holding onto unregistered firearms will be arrested and charged.”

Meanwhile Turi said more than half of the complaints his office received daily were public complaints and allegations against police. 

Turi said of more than 15  officers, some of them would make their first appearance while others would be returning for mention. 

Police Commissioner Gari Baki had said 2016 is the year of discipline and crack down on ill-discipline officers.

Turi said he was carrying out the instructions mentioned by Baki to instilled discipline in officers to maintain the integrity of the police force.