PNG Police Clamp Down on Police Impersonators
The Papua New Guinea's NCD/Central command is clamping down on all illegal activities affecting the role of police including identifying and charging impersonators who are falsely portraying themselves as police to deceive and extort money from unsuspecting victims.
Divisional Commander of NCD Central Command, Assistant Commissioner Anthony Wagambie Junior said three civilians were arrested lately, but one of them escaped and is on the run.
He said two of them were slapped with various charges, including impersonating the role of police.
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| Assistant Commissioner Anthony Wagambie Junior |
He said the first one was arrested at Porebada outside NCD.
He was found drunk and half-clothed in police uniform.
He was arrested after a motorist along the Porebada road became suspicious and raised the alarm with Police.
The informant reported that four men in a brown ten seater half-clothed in Police uniform, were stopping and extorting money from unsuspecting motorists.
NCD units went to the location and apprehended the impersonator at his home, half-clothed in Police uniform.
He was charged by Badili Police for impersonating Police.
Mr Wagambie said two members of Central Police who were allegedly seen with this impersonator will also face the Constabulary's Internal Affairs unit.
ACP Wagambie said Zone 3 Commander Chief Inspector Fred Tundu caught the second impersonator wearing the uniform and driving a Toyota Land Cruiser in town recently.
The impersonator was attempting to confiscate and steal a phone, belonging to a motorist when Chief Inspector Tundu intervened.
The suspect however escaped and his private vehicle which was used at the time of the incident was impounded at Boroko Police Station.
Three different registration number plates were also found inside the impounded vehicle.
A few days later, the same person wore a police field trousers and stole a car at the 5 Mile White House club.
A CCTV video of the crime was uploaded on social media, and he was eventually arrested, and the stolen car recovered that same day.
Mr Wagambie directed for him to be detained inside the Boroko Police Station cells to prevent him from escaping other impending charges.
Mr Wagambie said multiple charges were eventually laid against him, including impersonating the role of police and stealing a motor vehicle.
He said the matter is now before the court.
Mr Wagambie said a third impersonator who wore the police field uniform and was conducting traffic at Gerehu bus stop escaped shortly after from the Police Station after he was apprehended.
His place of residence is known to police and they expect to have him re-arrested soon, the Commander said.
ACP Wagambie is personally following up on this .
He has also instructed the Internal Investigations unit to deal with regular members of the Constabulary; if they were found to be entertaining abetting or aiding these impersonators.
ACP Wagambie said the regular members will be charged administratively and they will be recommended for immediate dismissal from the force.
Mr Wagambie said there are more good cops than the bad ones.
We are all working together to deal with rogue elements and we will identify those who are bringing disrepute to the organisation.
We will identify the bad apples and we will also arrest and charge anyone found impersonating the work of police.
Our goal as a Command is to fix up the internal issues in our bid to win back the trust and confidence of the community.
In a Media conference recently, ACP Wagambie talked about this issue, and a snippet of this interview is uploaded with this article.
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