Policeman charged with aiding murder suspects

 By Zachery PER

A policeman based in Southern Highlands was arrested for allegedly aiding an escape of three wilful murder suspects from police custody.

First Const Vincent Undah (40), of Laiapu village in Ialibu, Pangia, allegedly released murder suspects Lepi Lapua, Tamai Lapua and Jack Tamini from Ialibu police cell late last month.

Southern Highlands provincial police commander Chief Supt Teddy Tei yesterday confirmed the arrest of the officer under section 138 (a) of the criminal code Act, chapter 262 for aiding to escape from lawful custody. 

He said the accused policeman with an assistant of an accomplished arranged and aided the escape of the three suspects on Dec 27, last year.

Tei said the murder suspects were arrested and detained for alleged murder of a church pastor and his son from remote Koya village in South Wiru area of Pangia.

“They were arrested on Dec 23, after they were sighted in Ialibu station when they were trying to collect payments for a road projects,” he said.

The policeman was released on K500 bail and will appear before district court to answer the charges.

Tei issued a warning to policemen who behaved unethically and against the law of the land and would come down hard on them. 

He said police were using limited resources to arrest and detained murder suspects who have no regards for human lives and such policemen who received bribes to release prisoners would be dealt with accordingly.

“These suspects are from inaccessible areas in remote South Wiru area and we are lucky to arrest them but they are now at large again by the action of careless policemen. 

“I appeal to the community leaders and public to help police re-arrest these suspects,” Tei said.