Two senior police officers charged with wilful murder

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
TWO senior police officers have been charged with wilful murder, in relation to the death of a man in a police station cell in East Sepik.
They are Yangoru Police Station commander Inspector Kevin Hembehoie and Tangori Rural Police Station commander Senior Constable Moses Pilai.
Jacob Tuolingi died after he was allegedly assaulted and detained in the Yangoru Police Station for 19 days without being charged or granted bail.
Assistant Commissioner of Police vrimes Hodges Ette told The National that an elder brother reported the matter to police in Wewak.
He said the two police officers also allegedly threatened Tuolingi’s relatives.
“The two men, using their powers, (allegedly) suppressed progress of the matter,” Ette said.
“So the relatives wrote a complaint letter to the Director of Crimes Superintendent Joel Simatamb, which was received on Sept 23, 2021.”
Police then started investigating the death of Tuolingi from Hambeli village, Yangoru-Saussia.
But when a team of police detectives arrived in Wewak on Jan 12, the two senior police officers had locked up both stations and fled to Madang without notifying provincial police commander Superintendent Albert Beli.
“They also hid the police station vehicles and firearms.”
The two officers were arrested by Madang police and detained at the Jomba Police Station before being charged.
Ette said any “abuse of trust and powers” by policemen would not be tolerated by the constabulary.
“This is a proper police investigation authorised by the executive management of the constabulary in the interest of the rule of law with no hidden motives,” he said.