PNG’s police minister cracks the whip on shoddy probes
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| Furore and concern over the courts’ freeing of two suspects who allegedly aided the escape of Tommy Baker because of lack of police investigations. |
PNG’s police minister cracks the whip on shoddy probes
PORT MORESBY: Papua New Guinea (PNG)’s Police Minister Bryan Kramer has cracked the whip, asking acting Police Comm Francis Tokura and Deputy Comm (Operations) David Manning to provide a brief on high profile cases that had been dismissed by courts.
This follows the courts' freeing of two suspects who allegedly aided the escape of PNG’s most wanted criminal Tommy Maeva Baker on July 24 and Aug 7, 2019.
Both were freed because the police failed to complete investigations for more than three months after the duo were arrested and detained.
On another public law and order-related issue, Individual and Community Rights Advocacy Forum chairman and lawyer Paul Harricknen called on the PNG Government to discard the old ways of using police brutality and the burning down of houses in crime prevention and control.
He reminded the Government that PNG had ratified the United Nations (UN) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights(ICCPR) in 2008.
PNG Cyber Monitor is taking stock of public law and order developments reported by the media:
Check cases: Kramer
By REBECCA KUKUALL high-profile cases of national interest that have been dismissed in courts will be revisited to establish why they were thrown out, says Police Minister Bryan Kramer.
Kramer told The National that unlike before, in his capacity now as the Minister for Police, he would be “taking a keen interest in any or all high-profile cases of national interest” that were thrown out of courts to establish why they were dismissed.
Cases of two men, who were suspected of aiding Milne Bay’s notorious fugitive Tommy Baker, whose gang was responsible for terrorising and robbing communities in Milne Bay and parts of Central since last December and also for the Jan 24 chaos in Alotau, were recently dismissed due to lack of police investigations.
The first suspect was freed on July 24 and the second yesterday.
Kramer said that he had asked acting Commissioner Francis Tokura and DCP operations David Manning to provide a brief on the case for him.
“Just because a case is dismissed by the district court does not mean the matter is over,” Kramer said.
“It just means, that at that time either police failed to submit hand-up brief within three months or there was insufficient evidence submitted to justify the matter being committed to stand trial in National Court. If there are no justified grounds then the officers charged with those cases can expect to be held accountable.”
Kramer also said that he could not comment on whether the case of the suspected Baker-aides would be re-opened as it was a matter for police to decide based on the evidence available.
“My job is to ensure that police are carrying out their job in accordance with the law, diligently and with due care. So, until I’ve had the opportunity to be fully briefed by acting police commissioner (Tokura), it would be premature for me make formal statements in relation to the merits or progress of the cases.”
Kramer told The National that unlike before, in his capacity now as the Minister for Police, he would be “taking a keen interest in any or all high-profile cases of national interest” that were thrown out of courts to establish why they were dismissed.
Cases of two men, who were suspected of aiding Milne Bay’s notorious fugitive Tommy Baker, whose gang was responsible for terrorising and robbing communities in Milne Bay and parts of Central since last December and also for the Jan 24 chaos in Alotau, were recently dismissed due to lack of police investigations.
The first suspect was freed on July 24 and the second yesterday.
Kramer said that he had asked acting Commissioner Francis Tokura and DCP operations David Manning to provide a brief on the case for him.
“Just because a case is dismissed by the district court does not mean the matter is over,” Kramer said.
“It just means, that at that time either police failed to submit hand-up brief within three months or there was insufficient evidence submitted to justify the matter being committed to stand trial in National Court. If there are no justified grounds then the officers charged with those cases can expect to be held accountable.”
Kramer also said that he could not comment on whether the case of the suspected Baker-aides would be re-opened as it was a matter for police to decide based on the evidence available.
“My job is to ensure that police are carrying out their job in accordance with the law, diligently and with due care. So, until I’ve had the opportunity to be fully briefed by acting police commissioner (Tokura), it would be premature for me make formal statements in relation to the merits or progress of the cases.”
Police methods damaging
By SYLVESTER WEMURUTHE old ways of using police brutality and the burning down of houses in crime prevention and control must stop because it is seriously damaging the image of Papua New Guinea.
Individual and Community Rights Advocacy Forum chairman and lawyer Paul Harricknen said such inhumane practices “have no play in this modern era”.
“The Government and its law enforcement agencies, especially the police, must find new ways to deal with law and order issues effectively,” he added.
“The police need the respect of the people and communities to cooperate and help address law and order issues.
“Where is the community policing concept which was once proving successful under the former police commissioner Peter Agilo?
“Resorting to guns, aggression, might and extra-judicial killings have not and will not prevent and minimise crime.
“The archaic ways of dealing with law and order by might, violence and human rights abuse are only resulting in the further deterioration of law and order problems among communities.
“It is worrying when police go about terrorising people and communities and burning down houses instead of tracking down and arresting criminals.
“That seemed to be the case in West Yangoru’s Boem Village in West Yangoru.”
Harricknen, who heads the non-governmental human rights group said, policemen were restrained by law from using excessive force or methods to effect arrest.
“That is stated in their operational manual (together with standard operating procedures),” he said.
“Any breach amounts to abuse of human rights as guaranteed under the country’s Constitution.
“Papua New Guinea has also ratified the United Nations (UN) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in 2008.
“It has a duty to uphold the civil and political rights and is also duty bound to report to the UN of its human rights record. With the current rise in allegations of State violence reports, what kind of reports will the state make to the UN?
“The prime minister and his Police Minister and the Government leadership must speak up against such alleged unlawful conduct and act accordingly.”
Individual and Community Rights Advocacy Forum chairman and lawyer Paul Harricknen said such inhumane practices “have no play in this modern era”.
“The Government and its law enforcement agencies, especially the police, must find new ways to deal with law and order issues effectively,” he added.
“The police need the respect of the people and communities to cooperate and help address law and order issues.
“Where is the community policing concept which was once proving successful under the former police commissioner Peter Agilo?
“Resorting to guns, aggression, might and extra-judicial killings have not and will not prevent and minimise crime.
“The archaic ways of dealing with law and order by might, violence and human rights abuse are only resulting in the further deterioration of law and order problems among communities.
“It is worrying when police go about terrorising people and communities and burning down houses instead of tracking down and arresting criminals.
“That seemed to be the case in West Yangoru’s Boem Village in West Yangoru.”
Harricknen, who heads the non-governmental human rights group said, policemen were restrained by law from using excessive force or methods to effect arrest.
“That is stated in their operational manual (together with standard operating procedures),” he said.
“Any breach amounts to abuse of human rights as guaranteed under the country’s Constitution.
“Papua New Guinea has also ratified the United Nations (UN) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in 2008.
“It has a duty to uphold the civil and political rights and is also duty bound to report to the UN of its human rights record. With the current rise in allegations of State violence reports, what kind of reports will the state make to the UN?
“The prime minister and his Police Minister and the Government leadership must speak up against such alleged unlawful conduct and act accordingly.”
Police officers highlight issues affecting operations
LACK of transport and weapons are just some of the issues affecting police officers in the nation’s capital, according to Police Minister Bryan Kramer.
Police officers told him about the hardships they faced on a daily basis when he visited about 10 police stations in the National Capital District on Tuesday.
Kramer was accompanied by Acting Deputy Commissioner and chief of operations David Manning and director of Internal Affairs Chief Supt Robert Ali.
The intention of the visit was for the minister to observe and monitor how police at each station operated at night. The team started their visit at the Port Moresby Police Station and proceeded onto Badili, Hohola and ended at the Gordon Police Station.
Kramer had a chance to have a one-on-one discussion with shift members at each station and they shared their hardship faced at work place daily.
The majority of the issues encountered were lack of transport for pick-up and drop offs, lack of occurrence books to register complaints, lack of weapons and issue of police uniforms.
At some stations with no transport for pick up, members for the next shift such as midnight (11pm-7am) had to make their own way to their stations during daytime and stayed around until their shift started.
Police officers told him about the hardships they faced on a daily basis when he visited about 10 police stations in the National Capital District on Tuesday.
Kramer was accompanied by Acting Deputy Commissioner and chief of operations David Manning and director of Internal Affairs Chief Supt Robert Ali.
The intention of the visit was for the minister to observe and monitor how police at each station operated at night. The team started their visit at the Port Moresby Police Station and proceeded onto Badili, Hohola and ended at the Gordon Police Station.
Kramer had a chance to have a one-on-one discussion with shift members at each station and they shared their hardship faced at work place daily.
The majority of the issues encountered were lack of transport for pick-up and drop offs, lack of occurrence books to register complaints, lack of weapons and issue of police uniforms.
At some stations with no transport for pick up, members for the next shift such as midnight (11pm-7am) had to make their own way to their stations during daytime and stayed around until their shift started.
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