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 A police constable in Papua New Guinea remains in custody after being charged with multiple offenses following a disturbing incident in Madang. The update was provided by Commissioner of Police David Manning, who condemned the actions of the officer and outlined the charges against him. The constable faces serious criminal charges, including four counts of wounding, one count of assault occasioning bodily harm, one count of unlawful discharge of a firearm, and one count of abuse of office.

Commissioner of Police David Manning

In addition to the constable’s arrest, investigating officers have detained and charged four other individuals believed to be co-offenders in the case. These arrests were made under Section 7 of the Criminal Code Act 1974. Meanwhile, two senior officers within the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) have been suspended from their positions and are under administrative review for allegedly failing to maintain proper oversight of their subordinates, as reported by the Internal Affairs Directorate.

Commissioner Manning addressed the media earlier today at 11:00 AM, expressing his outrage over a video that has circulated widely, showing police officers threatening civilians with firearms during the incident in Madang. He described the behavior displayed in the footage as "criminal and unprofessional," particularly criticizing the improper handling of weapons. Manning confirmed that the officer involved was disarmed by fellow police personnel and will now face the courts for his actions.

The commissioner also revealed troubling details about the accused officer’s history, noting that he had been dismissed from the RPNGC in 2023 as part of efforts to curb unprofessional conduct. That dismissal was linked to prior criminal behavior; however, a National Court injunction intervened, allowing the officer to remain in uniform despite the disciplinary action.

Manning stressed that such misconduct would not be tolerated within the police force in Papua New Guinea and vowed to ensure accountability for all personnel involved in the incident. The accused officer is expected to appear in court in the coming days as legal proceedings move forward.

The incident has sparked widespread concern across Papua New Guinea, with calls for stricter enforcement of discipline within the police force to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

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