POLICE ARREST 18 FOR DRINKING IN HOSPITAL PREMISES

Police have already made it known that this festive season’s they will crack down on public nuisance and to come good on their word, police in Port Moresby city apprehended a group of men employed by a communications company, for drinking in public.

Eighteen (18) Digicel employees were arrested by Hohola Police and were charged for drinking at Port Moresby General premises on Sunday 8th December. The individuals were later detained at Boroko Police Station cells.

NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Silva Sika confirmed the incident, stating that the men, aged between 20 and 35, were drinking and causing disturbances at the hospital premises. Concerned members of the public alerted police about the noise.

Hohola police officers on night duty quickly responded and apprehended the suspects near the Susu Mama Clinic as they were about to leave the hospital premises in a vehicle.

“The police were tipped off that the men were in a vehicle by the Pom Gen residents and the responding officers sighted the vehicle and managed to stop it and conducted an immediate search. The suspects matched the descriptions given by the callers, and after being searched, police then ordered the driver to proceed to Hohola Police Station,” said Superintendent Sika.

At Holala Police Station, the suspects were cautioned before being transferred with assistance from other police units to Badili Police Station for detention.

“At Badili, they were formally charged under Section 3 of the Summary Offences Act for drunkenness, then the 18 men were transported to Boroko Police Station,” Superintendent Sika added.

The suspects are eligible for bail but will remain in custody if they cannot pay, and they are expected to appear in court.

Superintendent Sika thanks the Holala police officers and Section Patrol Units for their swift action on this incident.

“The festive season operation will be launched this week, and this arrest is a good start for us. I urge the public to respect others during celebrations or parties. Noise pollution is an offence, and I thank the public for reporting these individuals. Hospital premises should remain quiet to ensure a peaceful environment for the sick,” Supt. Sika concluded.