Receiving of Briberies is one of the main reasons why many Sorcery Accusation and Related Violence cases never reach National Court trials.
A police officer attached to Banz Police Station allegedly receiving bribery on major Sorcery Accusation and Related Violence (SARV) cases had attempted several times to stop cases from reaching National Court trials.
Three major ongoing SARV cases for PNG Tribal Foundation in Jiwaka Province has been disturbed and attempts have been made to scrap off the matters going into National Court trial, this is because of a police officer (named) who is the arresting officer dealing with the cases.
The matter has been reported to Banz Police Station regarding the misconduct of the officer who is attached to the Criminal Investigation Division (CID).
Provincial Police Commander, Acting Superintendent Laimo Asi, has been made aware of the incident and confirmed yesterday that he has given directives to his Officer-in-Charge CID for a report to further investigate the complaint raised by PNG Tribal Foundation.
It was alleged that last week, the policeman received K3000 from the mother of the perpetrator of a SARV case that happened seven years ago in Golo Dop village, following a death now leaving 10 victims under the support of Tribal Foundation while battling the case in court.
The officer who received the money wrote to the National Court to withdraw the case but was unsuccessful. The state prosecutor has advised to put forward the matter for trial on October 17th, after eyewitnesses were interviewed.
Another SARV case in Kombulno village, North Wahgi in Jiwaka, that happened in July 2023, where the same officer allegedly received K1900 from the suspect’s relatives, and also wrote a withdrawal letter to the court, and had 11 suspects released from police cells on November 13th, 2023.
Another major SARV case happened in Kamal village following the killing of a six-year-old child on March 6th, 2024, in Banz, Jiwaka. The officer allegedly misplaced reports of the case presented to court; however, another CID officer took over the case before it was dismissed in court.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Internal Investigation Unit (IIU) Emil Alpha is being made aware today (Wednesday) of the ongoing practice by officers to further investigate it.
PNG Tribal Foundation President GT Bustin said they have spent more than K200,000 prosecuting these cases.
“We cannot allow a corrupt police officer to benefit personally off the suffering and death of these are victims.”
“We know this officer well and we are fully expecting the police and justice systems to deal with him swiftly and with the full force of the law,” Mr. Bustin said.
Jiwaka OIC CID detective James Kami confirmed the incident stating that they will try their best to reinvestigate the cases.
He also stated that the officer was suspended previously for other allegations.
The alleged officer is from East Sepik and served Banz police station.
Police in Banz have given assurance of a full investigation into the incident.
In September this year, Tribal Foundation, through their support program, assisted more than 10 eyewitnesses and police officers with logistics in the Highlands region attending National Courts and police stations.
In Kundiawa District, two perpetrators of a SARV case were successfully convicted in National Court, serving eight (8) years each in Bawaragi Prison in Simbu.
Chuave CID officers thanked Tribal Foundation for the continuous support, and the movement of the eyewitnesses attending court resulted in the conviction of the two suspects.
Tribal Foundation confirmed more than five SARV cases are listed for National Court trial this month and will continue throughout the remaining months.
