Police boss calls for investigation of members

MOROBE police commander (PPC) Supt Alex N’Drasal has called for an investigation into the actions of Northern policemen stationed at Maita Rock on the border with Morobe.
Supt N’Drasal said serious allegations of harassment, intimidation and theft had been made by people travelling by sea between the two provinces against police during the state of emergency (SOE) and lockdown period.
He said he had received reports and complaints informing him of the policemen’s alleged illegal actions.
Supt N’Drasal said the policemen stationed at Maita Rock should have only impounded the boats and if they had harassed people and stole property, they needed to be arrested and charged for breaching SOE rules.
He said officers from the Morobe patrol post and complainants had travelled to Maita Rock to retrieve three impounded boats but were met with resistance from local police.
He said those boats had not been transporting betel nut when they were impounded but were ferrying food and other supplies for a funeral service at a village in Northern.
“I am not happy with the policemen who have treated Morobe people unfairly and have impounded more than 10 boats belonging to them,” he said.
Supt N’Drasal said according to some complainants, boat operators were being told by police to jump off the boats and swim the crocodile-infested delta of the Eaa and Gugumi rivers.