31 Mar 2014

PNG police commander arrested over brutal arrests

3:00 pm on 31 March 2014

A police station commander in Papua New Guinea has been arrested and charged with unlawful wounding and armed robbery, after accusations of police brutality.

The Gordon station commander, Senior Inspector John Tarur, and four other police face charges after 75 men from Saraga settlement at 6-Mile, were allegedly slashed with knives while being arrested last year.

It's alleged last May the officers were dispatched to disarm the group of men who were armed with sticks, bush knives, home-made guns, and bows and arrows.

While rounding up the men the officers use the knives against them, and stole personal items.

These men had been involved in an ethnic clash with a group residing at 8-Mile after a relative was killed the previous day.

Four homes were burnt the next day.