Police asked to investigate soldier’s death

By JACKLYN SIRIAS
ANY killing or homicide in the country comes under country’s laws and should be investigated by local police, says National Capital District Metropolitan Superintendent Perou N’Dranou, pictured.
He was responding to comments by the US Embassy’s public affairs officer Beverly Thacker that “local police do not have a role” in the investigation into the death of a US soldier at an apartment in Port Moresby last week.
N’Dranou said NCD police should investigate the soldier’s death.
“This is not USA,” he said.
“We have our jurisdiction.
“We respect that they have a protocol to follow but that should not stop us from doing our job.
“All they need to do is give us a brief on the incident,” N’Dranou said.
He said they had arranged with the embassy to provide them with evidence.
“Any homicide or killing made in this country comes under Papua New Guinea laws and we have the right to the information as we are the host nation.
“Unfortunately, I was not given that opportunity to investigate that case,” he said.
N’Dranou said he did not want to set a precedent that any foreigner killed in the country would not be investigated by police as it would be wrong.
“This is Port Moresby. It is under my command.
“I have full authority to investigate that case,” he said.
Thacker said the US embassy “has been and will continue to coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and RPNGC in the ongoing inquiry”.
“The NCD Metropolitan Command is welcome to contact MFA and RPNGC for any information,” she said.