Police harass youth boss

ABOUT 20 armed policemen in three vehicles yesterday fronted up at the Sambra Haus at Waigani, NCD,
to arrest acting National Youth Commissioner Norit Luio.
Luio was appointed as acting commissioner by the National Executive Council last month following the suspension of Johnson Hebe over claims of misappropriation, nepotism and non-performance.
He said he was taken by surprise when two policemen and two civilians – a man and a woman – entered his office and demanded that he followed them to the police station.
All this took place just before midday yesterday.
“I faced the policemen and their civilian friends and asked them politely if they had any court documents or warrant to confirm the nature of their orders for me to go with them.
“They did not respond to my question.
“One of the policemen kept on shouting at the top of his voice for me to go to the police station with them,” Luio said.
The shouting attracted many onlookers and staff from the Department of Community Development, Civil Registry and the National Youth Commission.
Senior staff even asked the policemen from a nearby police station and their civilian friends to leave the office premises because their approach in executing their orders was not proper.
Luio also told the policemen: “I have done no wrong. If this is to do with my appointment, it is the NEC whose direction I have complied with.”
Reports said one of the policemen even tried to punch a ministerial staff and damaged one of the doors in the building.
The assailants were also accused of being drunk.
“I still do not know why the police and their civilian friends wanted from me,” Luio said.
He said his lawyers had lodged a formal police complaint with the metropolitan command and Waigani police station.