Stripped vendors told to report to police

By Rebecca Kuku
PEOPLE claiming to have been stripped naked by police must report it to their nearest police station because it was wrong, says NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Perou N’Dranou.
N’Dranou told a press conference in Port Moresby regarding betel nut ban that he was not aware of three such incidents he was asked about.
Police were alleged to have stripped betel nut vendors as a form of punishment in Port Moresby.
“I am not aware of the incidents. However, I want to make it clear that it is wrong and those who claim to have been stripped naked by police officers must report it to the nearest police station,” he said. N’Dranou said that he would look into the matter.
National Capital District Commission city manager Benard Kipit also condemned police officers who were stripping the vendors.
“The partial betel nut ban is only for Boroko, which is being used as a model project and does not include the rest of the city,” Kipit said.
“We will see how Boroko works out and will expand from there to other parts of the city but in the meantime, the ban is only for the Boroko area.”
Kipit said that there were laws in place to charge those who were caught selling, chewing or spitting betel nuts.