Grade 9 schoolboy shot dead by ‘intoxicated’ cop

News that matter in Papua New Guinea

Grade 9 schoolboy shot dead by ‘intoxicated’ cop

 PORT MORESBY: Instead of celebrating the joy of Christmas, the family of a 16-year-old boy had to mourn and bury him.

The family has alleged that the boy was shot and assaulted by an intoxicated policeman from Rai Coast’s Saidor in Madang and his body left in the police station.

Thomson Silip, a Grade 9 student, was walking home after attending a haus krai when he was shot, assaulted and taken to the Saidor police station.

The news break was reported by The National:

Cop allegedly kills teen

December 28, 2021The NationalMain Stories

The 16-year-old Silip as he was before he was shot allegedly by a police officer. – Pictures supplied

INSTEAD of celebrating the joy of Christmas, the family of a 16-year-old boy had to mourn and bury him.
The family has alleged that the boy was shot and assaulted by an intoxicated policeman from Rai Coast’s Saidor in Madang and his body left in the police station.
Thomson Silip, a Grade 9 student, was walking home after attending a haus krai when he was shot, assaulted and taken to the Saidor station.
Silip who attended Saidor High School, was shot at about 1pm on Wednesday when he came upon policemen along the road.
Eyewitnesses told The National that the policeman allegedly did not ask any questions, pointed the firearm at Silip and fired thrice, missing the schoolboy twice before a third shot hit him on his chest.
Police Commissioner David Manning said the shooting would be investigated with the accused policeman brought in for questioning.
“I am aware of the latest shooting incident involving the policeman over the weekend.
“I will continue to push for command and control with provincial police commanders tasked to lead their men.
“Any accusations made against the police in any province should be investigated immediately.
“Should a policeman or officer is charged, the court process is there.
“Also, the Internal Investigations Unit will investigate all allegations made by the public against policemen and officers.
“I ask that the family report the matter immediately,” Comm Manning said.
According to reports from Saidor, there was an armed robbery near the station where three men held up another three men.
The suspects, according to the victims, were armed with a homemade firearm and two bush knives, robbed a substantial amount of money and personal items and made their getaway down the river.
The robbery victims returned to the station and lodged a police report.
While the victims were explaining what happened at the crime scene, the policemen allegedly did not pay attention to the victims, and, instead took another route up the highway.
As the victims and the policemen walked up the road, Silip was returning from a haus krai of a relative, approached the group and a policeman pointed to the student.
Silip was unaware of the robbery and because of the firearm he stopped, and the policeman allegedly fired three times.
The policeman allegedly aimed at Silip’s head and shoulder but missed. The third shot hit Silip’s chest, killing him on the spot.
The policeman then went down to the river and told the children to come up and get their wantok.
The children were too frightened and did not respond. The policemen then carried Silip’s body and dumped it near the riverbank and proceeded to kick his face and body before picking him up and transporting the body in the vehicle to Saidor station.
Silip was buried by his family on Christmas day.
After the burial, the family met with the police who told the family and relatives that “since polis kilim, mipla no nap wokim samting, yupla kisim go kot (since police killed him, we will not do anything, you take it to court)”.