It has been revealed that one of the police officers involved in the rape of a young woman in their custody at the Saraga Police Station in Port Moresby city, was supposed to be serving a prison sentence.
The Police Commissioner, David Manning, revealed this in a statement released over the weekend, confirming that an immediate inquiry is underway by the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Internal Affairs) to determine how this particular officer, Constable Danny Karaio, who was sentenced in 2012 to more than 14 years imprisonment, was not still in prison, obtained a police uniform and had been acting under the command of a supervising officer.
“Initial facts established by the inquiry have revealed an unacceptable failure by Karaio’s commanding officers when he was convicted in 2012.
Karaio’s supervising officers at the time, the Metropolitan Superintendent, and the Divisional Commander NCD, failed to ensure he was dismissed from the Force.
They failed the Police Force and they failed our public,” said Commissioner Manning.
Manning said what had transpired back then showed a clear and disgraceful dereliction of duty from Commissioned Officers who owed the public better when this person was arrested in 2010 and when he was convicted in 2012.
“By operation of law, this individual had no place in the Police Force. By operation of Standing Orders, his supervising officers had a duty to ensure he was removed from the Force. By Common decency, any member aware of his actions should have ensured he was removed from uniform and put behind bars,” Manning said.
So far, three officers involved in the rape of the woman, including Karaio, have been arrested and charged, while the fourth one is still on the run.
Commissioner Manning assured the public that the fourth officer, an Auxiliary Officer, will soon be apprehended as police officers are closing in on him.