University shooting probe on hold

By REBECCA KUKU
POLICE are unable to complete an inquiry into the shooting of University of PNG students by officers in 2016 because of the lack of cooperation from the university and students, a top officer says.
Assistant Police Commissioner (Crime) Victor Isouve told The National yesterday that the inquiry had to be put on hold because police could not obtain any witness statements from the university when conducting the inquiry.
On June 8, 2016, police fired shots at a group of protesting UPNG students who were demanding among other things that Prime Minister Peter O’Neill step down from office.
O’Neill ordered a commission of inquiry into the shooting. Police and the Ombudsman Commission also held their own investigations into the shootings.
Isouve said the police crimes division were tasked with the inquiry but failed to get witnesses to give statements.
“We asked the UPNG administration to work with us but to date nothing,” he said.
“We also reached out to the Students Representative Council to come forward but most of them had already left the city.
“I don’t know why but no one has come forward to provide witness statements.”
Isouve said they needed witness statements to help them identify |the officers involved in the shooting.
He said the Crimes Office would continue to investigate the matter no matter how long it would take.
“There is no end to a crime investigation. If we have fresh evidence we will pursue the case again,” he said.