Poachers’ evidence burnt

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
PNG Defence Force soldiers returning from Covid-19 operations along the PNG-Australian-Indonesian maritime border are being accused of destroying evidence against Indonesian poachers, PNGDF chief of staff Capt Philip Polewara says.
“These soldiers, who are now in quarantine at Taurama Barracks in Port Moresby, will be investigated for allegedly burning a 23ft dinghy and 85 horse powered engine after confiscating them from Indonesian poachers at Katawa village in South Fly, Western, last week,” Capt Polewara said.
“These are court exhibits that will be used by police as evidence to prosecute these Indonesians for illegal entry and illegal fishing.
“Without these evidences, police will find it hard to prosecute these Indonesians in the Daru District Court.”
Capt Polewara said the soldiers were part of the Joint Security Task Force team which included police, Customs, National Fisheries Authority (NFA), Immigration, National Agriculture Quarantine Inspection Authority and the provincial health authority.
“According to reports, these soldiers from the PNGDF maritime element were part of the small boats team deployed to South Fly to patrol the maritime border,” he said.
“They became frustrated after their commanders at Murray Barracks in Port Moresby turned down their request to bring the boat and outboard motor on a barge.
“Their request was turned down because this dinghy and engine are court exhibits.
“So instead of handing these exhibits to the police to safe-keep them at the police station, they quietly took the boat and engine to an isolated spot on Daru island and burnt them on Monday afternoon.”
Capt Polewara said that the small boat team soldiers returned on Monday after allegedly burning the exhibits at Tawo Point.
Meanwhile, sources said the Indonesian poachers were hiding among villagers.