Police to investigate alleged assault by officers

OFF-duty police officers who assaulted two security guards and damaged the gate of a property in Wewak last Sunday will be investigated and dealt with accordingly.
East Sepik police commander Supt Albert Beli told The National that the complaint by the victims had been attended to by senior police officers.
“I have been strict on discipline from my officers. Most of the police brutality done these days are by the young officers,” he said.
Beli said such individuals do not have a place in the force and needed to be investigated and disciplined.
Guards Junior Mandawali and Pato Wokai, who are employees of Strategic Security, told The National that they were on duty last Sunday when they were assaulted by off-duty police officers who drove in an unmarked vehicle.
Mandawali said he was at Ezico supermarket next to Wewak police station when the officers drove to him and one of them he knew ordered him to approach them.
“When I approached the policemen, he told me to walk to the back of the police vehicle so I did.
“The officer I know opened the door of the vehicle and jumped out and started punching me. I fell on the ground and was kicked in face and head,” Mandawali said.
Mandawali said he called out in pain and the officer stopped and the car drove off.
He said while he was watching, he saw them stopped in front of Papindo and started to bash another guard, Pato Wokai.
Wokai said he was struck in the face and thrown onto the ground and had his uniform torn.
“I was surprised when the white Landcruiser with tinted windows stopped near the supermarket and the policemen opened the door and one of them jumped out of the vehicle and threw a full can of beer at me and punched me.
“The other policeman also joined him and they punched me and dragged me on the road. After beating me they drove away,” Wokai said.
Both guards said they did not know why they had been attacked but confirmed that the officers were drunk.
Strategic Security director Vincent Pokas said the policemen were off duty and drunk.