PAPUA New Guinea police officers deployed to the Solomon Islands for cyclone relief efforts have been ordered to leave after using a weapon to threaten a civilian.
The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary are believed to have been drunk when their unmarked truck collided with a stationary civilian car at Tenaru, east of the capital, Honiara.
Solomons Police Commissioner Vaevaso confirmed that PNG police officers had been disarmed and stood down.
“The [police] officers appeared to be intoxicated. Upon exiting their vehicle and identifying themselves as PNG police, they allegedly assaulted a civilian and uttered abusive language,” one eyewitness told In-depth Solomons.
“They also threatened to shoot members of the public with a gun. They also violated traffic rules before driving away toward Honiara City.”
Vaevaso said the PNG police officers would be repatriated once travel arrangements had been made.
Vaevaso said he raised the matter with the PNG contingent commander. PNG police immediately removed the officers from active duties.
“The involved [police] officers have been disarmed and removed from active service. These [police] officers have paid compensation to the local residents involved,” Vaevaso said.
The PNG police officers are part of a deployment to help the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force maintain law and order, as well as assist with humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations after Tropical Cyclone Maila.
Source: In-depth Solomons
