Senior Madang cop charged with attempted murder

By JAYNE SAFIHAO
THE head of the rapid response unit in Madang has been charged with attempted murder over the shooting of a Grade 9 student at Erima along the South Coast road last year.
Snr Const Daniel Kapen, 40, of Taulil village, Gazelle, East New Britain appeared in the Committal Court yesterday.
Kapen is well-known for his no-nonsense approach to curbing lawlessness around Madang.
His bail application is still pending over requests that the firearm used be tendered during his appearance today.
The rifle is an Israeli made Galil ACE 22 automatic rifle.
According to police records, a group of intoxicated boys were walking along the Erima road last Dec 11, between 3pm and 4pm.
They were heading in the direction of the school after an earlier scuffle and were leaving when they were stopped by Kapen
The victim, Donald Mara, a Grade 9 student at Malala Secondary School and a Cedric Waraho were the only ones standing on the road after others had fled upon seeing Kapen’s vehicle.
Kapen allegedly got out of his vehicle with his firearm and shot the feet of both boys.
The internal investigations unit and the Ombudsman Commission are in Madang to attend to public complaints raised against police for human rights abuses and other allegations.
Investigators on the case said yesterday that Madang had a high record of police shooting incidents.
Prosecutions would be conducted depending on the evidence and complaints brought before them.
Meanwhile, a team from the Lae Fraud Squad is currently investigating the Karkar treasury and headquarters.
One arrest has been made and more could follow.