(Report by Police Media Officer Andrew Philip.)
A policeman in the Highlands Eastern Command was arrested and charged for Dangerous Driving Causing death of a female passenger and for Grievous Bodily Harm.
Assistant Commissioner Highlands Eastern End Division Rigga Neggi said the police officer, who was attached to the Minj Police Station in the Jiwaka province, was charged with one count of dangerous driving causing death under Section 328 of the Criminal Code Act and one count of Dangerous Driving causing Grievous Bodily Harm.
ACP Neggi said the policeman is in police custody and awaiting appearance before the Committal Court in the Mount Hagen District Court.
Police alleged that there was a traffic accident involving two vehicles along the Minj road on Monday January 09, 2023, where a Toyota Land Cruiser 10-seater and another vehicle, a Toyota land Cruiser 4 door collided whilst travelling at high speed, with the drivers allegedly under the influence of alcohol.
“One of the female passengers (named) who was travelling in the vehicle driven by the off-duty policeman died due to injuries she sustained. Other passengers on both vehicles sustained serious injuries as well.
“The other driver is believed to be a young engineer from Barola in the Eastern Highlands Province. His body was found at the Waghi bridge and the relatives of the deceased engineer alleged that the off-duty policeman was responsible for his death.
“The relatives set up roadblocks at the Barola mountain targeting people from Jiwaka and Western Highlands Provinces and harassed other members of the public who were traveling on the highway,” Mr Neggi said.
Mr Neggi said that the death of the young engineer is now being investigated by an independent investigation team from the Western Highlands and Simbu provinces.
ACP Neggi is appealing to relatives of the deceased to allow the law to take its course. He is also appealing to members of the public who have any information of the incidents to come forward and assist police with the investigations.
Assistant Commissioner Highlands Eastern End Division Rigga Neggi