Wenge denies claims he called police in cop-death case

By JUNIOR UKAHA
NAWAEB MP Kennedy Wenge has denied claims that he had made an emergency call to police resulting in the death of a policeman last Wednesday in Hobu.
Wenge clarified this yesterday after there were allegations levelled at him on Facebook that he was the person who called police to attend to disturbances created by youths near his home during the State of Origin match.
A police unit from the Morobe police command responded to the call, and an officer was stabbed and killed.
This angered police, who responded by killing a suspect then and burning down more than 20 houses.
“I did not call police to Hobu,” Wenge said.
“In fact, I was watching the State of Origin match in Lae and returned home around 10.30pm,” he said.
“When I arrived home, I heard gunshots and screams everywhere.”
“I asked and they told me that someone had killed a policeman.
“My home is about a kilometre away from where the killing happened.”
Wenge said he had discussed the matter with provincial police commander Supt Alex N’Drasal and the commander understood his position.
Wenge, a second-term MP, said he knew the late policeman Ben Melvin personally as he worked with him from 1997 to 2002 when Wenge was an MP.
“I am sad that Ben has died because he was my friend,” Wenge said.
“I extend my condolences to Ben’s family and relatives.
“The district will assist police meet the funeral expenses of the late policeman.”
Wenge said innocent people of Hobu had also been affected as their houses were burnt so he would try his best to give them some peace as well.