Police to probe abuses in Oro

POLIC commissioner Gari Baki says a team would be dispatched to investigate allegations of serious abuse and violation of human rights by the police in Northern (Oro)’s Popondetta.
This follows senior provincial magistrate William Noki’s suspension of all court cases before him from Monday.
Noki, Northern’s only magistrate, refused to hear anymore cases prosecuted by Popondetta police in protest of what he termed “serious human rights abuse and violation of the law by police”.
Noki also warned: “If your (police) behaviour continues, I will have no choice but to dismiss cases against suspects who claim they had been tortured or brutalised by police.”
Baki’s assistant commissioner operation Tony Wagambie had been tasked to investigate the allegations.
“The allegation by the court is a serious matter. I will be taking a firm stand on the allegations but I will have to wait for the investigation reports from Wagambie,” he said after the signing of the letter of intent of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and the United Nations (UN) on a baseline research and training assistance programme for police on human rights and gender-based violence yesterday.
Wagambie said acting Southern regional commander Jerry Frank would be out on the first flight today to Popondetta to investigate the allegations.
“He (Frank) has been instructed to meet with the provincial police commander and the public in Popondetta. He will also be talking to Noki.
“Another team of internal investigators will also be sent there to carry out a full investigation.
“I’m calling on the public in Popondetta to cooperate with the investigators … I cannot deny police using force at times but they have to use minimal force when required,” he said.