HELA PPC SUSPENDED, OFFICERS IN CUSTODY

Nine police officers are in custody in the Hela province, while their Provincial Police Commander is under suspension, following a confrontation with Defence force personnel, over the weekend.

This is the measure taken by a joint Police and Defence Force investigation team, currently in the province.

The incident happened, after a Tari-based police vehicle refused to be searched by army officers, manning a check point between Magarima and Tari. 

The police vehicle was allegedly transporting cartons of beer into the province. 

A stand-off between the army guards and the policemen followed, after the latter refused to be searched and when the P-P-C allegedly failed to charge or discipline his officers.

Deputy Police Commissioner Simon Kauba told NBC News, the nine officers will be charged accordingly under provincial liquor laws for smuggling cartons of beer into the province, while a liquor ban is still in force. 

Mr. Kauba says a team of investigators comprising the Highlands Regional Commander, the Special Services Division of police and a Defence Force Colonel are in the province since Sunday investigating the incident, which has left three police officers hospitalised. 

The Deputy police boss says the Constabulary is very concerned about the poor level of discipline within both forces, and further appropriate actions will be taken against the officers, once they are slapped with charges. 

Mr. Kauba claims, the Constabulary's move to impose tougher discipline measures within the force is working, and that they will continue to do whatever they can to weed out ill-disciplined officers.