Order out for cop’s arrest

National

By VANESSA NIKEN
A WAIGANI committal court has issued a warrant of arrest for a policeman for non-appearance in court on a charge of permitting a prisoner to escape from custody.
Police alleged that on July 9, last year at about 9.30pm, Senior Constable Albert Richard, attached to the Boroko Police Station cells, was at the police station watch house (cells). It was alleged that Richard was there when a suspect was brought in to the station.
Bella Pea, from Walea village in Wapenamanda, Enga was charged with three counts under the Summary Offences Act and detained.
The charges were two counts of assault and threatening words.
The arresting officer at the time was Teffenie Dakemba from the Family and Sexual Violence Unit at the Boroko Police Station.
It was alleged that after arresting Pea, she was moved to the watch house.
It was alleged that Richard released her without forwarding the court files to the prosecution section.
The matter was then reported to the police station commander who wrote a show cause letter to Richard to explain why he had released Pea, the suspect.
Richard was also referred to the police internal affairs unit.
Richard was then brought in to the station and questioned.
He was then arrested and charged with wilfully permitting Pea to escape from custody.
Richard is however, out on bail and the matter will return to court on Aug 15 for hearing.