(Reports by Police Media Officer Andrew Philip.)
A policeman and three other suspects (civilians) were arrested and now in police custody for an attempted theft of a motor vehicle.
Southern Highlands Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Chief Superintendent Joseph Puri said the policeman attached to the Ialibu Police Station was formally suspended from official duties as of Tuesday February 21.
Police allege that on Saturday February 19, the suspects used a police hired vehicle for Ialibu Police Station and a police issued firearm and attempted to steal a vehicle belonging to Mr Tapoiye Natil, the Council President of Imbonggu Proper Local Level Government.
Villagers from Pakule village and the nearby community came to the aid of the Councilor and detained four suspects including the policeman whilst three others escaped.
Mr Puri said the vehicle was given to the policeman (suspect) by the Ialibu Police Station Commander Inspector John Kalopa to assist PNG Power workers. The PSC advised the suspect to return the vehicle the same day at 6:00pm but he did not return the vehicle and used it instead for the alleged illegal activity.
The PPC said an investigation team from Mendi has already been established and will be headed by Rural Commander for Southern Highlands, Chief Inspector Robin Mazuc.
“Stealing of motor vehicles is prevalent in the Southern Highlands so I am appealing to the general public to report any suspicious vehicles in their communities or villages to police.
“Vehicles have been stolen in the Western Highlands, Jiwaka, Simbu, Goroka, and Enga provinces and even in the Northern Divisional Command and driven to Mendi where they are stripped off their parts or spray painted and converted to their own use or sold to others.
“There is a known vehicle theft syndicate that exists in Southern Highlands with networks all over the Highlands region and in Momase region as well. This network includes police personnels and is a dangerous criminal syndicate network,” Mr Puri said.
The PPC said so far in his short stay in the province three Stolen Motor Vehicles (SMVs) have been recovered and returned to the owners in Jiwaka, and Western Highlands provinces.
Mr Puri thanked the people of Pakule village, the surrounding communities and the council president for apprehending the suspects and handing them over to police.
