Police station closed over brutality complaints

A POLICE post in Port Moresby has been closed after complaints that the officers manning it were involved in illegal activities.
Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations Donald Yamasombi confirmed the closure of the Saraga police station.
“Police officers at the station allegedly assault and interrogate suspects causing too many complaints of abuse by police,” he said.
“So the Commissioner (David Manning) directed that we close it with effect from yesterday.”
Manning in a directive to Yamasombi said “police functions and activities” at the Saraga police post should be transferred back to the police station commander at 6-Mile.
He said “without a proper set up, the new police facility at Saraga is becoming a haven for rogue police officers”.
He said they were using the “secluded location to intimidate prisoners, suspects to extort money and conduct illegal activities”.
He said this was done by “some of our armed, support units under the guise of doing police work”.
“Because of numerous complaints and concerns by members of the public there, the police post will be closed until a proper police station is established,” he said.
“A proper structure of authority under a police station commander (include) administrative procedures of processing daily complaints and dealing with protocols of handling prisoners being kept there.”