Suspects told to surrender

POLICE in East New Britain (ENB) have warned two most wanted criminals who are the prime suspects in the burning down of Kabagab Primary School in Kokopo’s Raluana local level government to surrender to police.
ENB police commander Chief Insp Januarius Vosivai said the two men were suspected of instigating the arson and fighting among three villages of Tinganalom, Ngatur and Ravat.
Vosivai said the suspect from Ravat village in ENB was also wanted for armed robbery and illegal use of a vehicle. The other suspect is from Kunakunai, ENB.
Vosivai was accompanied by Kokopo Police Station Commander (PSC) Insp Julie Palakai, members of the joint security forces which included police mobile squads 17, 18 and 19, Kokopo Police Response Unit and members of the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF) to Tinganalom and Ravat where the officers talked to community members.
Vosivai explained to the people that the joint security forces were on the ground and their purpose in the province was for General Election 2022 (GE22) operations.
They will also support and assist in other law and order issues.
“We are here to tell you to surrender all your offensive weapons that you used to use during the fighting and also we want the two main suspects to surrender,” Vosivai said.
He told the people that the Government had passed a new law on those who were in possession of illegal fire arms and the penalty was K50,000 fine or life imprisonment.
“This is an ongoing conflicts or fights that have been going on for four years and the burning down of the very important government institution. I will not rest until I make sure those involved in burning down of the school face the full force of law,” he said.
“You made history in ENB, New Guinea Island and PNG to burn down a whole school.”
“The people who did this are very selfish. You are making your innocent children suffer, you have deprived their rights of going to school.”