Police want former MP over deaths

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Wednesday 03rd April 2013

 By ZACHERY PER

A FORMER parliamentarian is wanted by police for questioning over allegations of attempted murder, conspiracy to kill other people and the burning down of over 60 homes.

Chimbu police have been waiting for former Chuave MP Jim Nomane since 2008 to show up and be questioned over several complaints against him by members of his rival tribes of Laiya in Siane, Chuave district. 

Assistant Commissioner of Police Highlands Teddy Tei said they had been looking for Nomane for a long time. Because he was a respected politician, they expected him to cooperate with police and turn up for questioning. A search warrant has been issued for him.

Police conducted a dawn raid for the second time last week at his Kama home in Goroka, Eastern Highlands.

Police said Nomane and his son James Josiah were still on the run. Another of his sons, John Nomane, and 14 others implicated in the attempted murder and arson claims had been taken to Kundiawa police station and locked up.

Tei said police expected Nomane to cooperate and turn himself in.

“I instructed the Chimbu provincial police commander to investigate further and report back to me on the issue and am still waiting for them,” Tei said.

According to police, the allegations were that Nomane in March 2008 started a fight against his rival tribe. The fighting went on for five years resulting in the death of eight people.

An official complaint was lodged with police in July last year. Police conducted a dawn raid at his home before the election but did not find him.

Apart from the arrest of the rest of the group, police confiscated a long-barrel shotgun, three boxes containing 100 live ammunitions in each, a telescope, a 9mm pistol and five cases of high powered guns. 

Attempts to get comments from Nomane on the allegations were unsuccessful.