Outrage in PNG as Police Officers Accused of Raping Woman in Port Moresby Holding Cell
A 22-year-old woman from Central Province is recovering with her family after she was allegedly raped by police officers while detained in a holding cell at Saraga Police Post, Moresby South District. The incident, which reportedly occurred last Tuesday, has triggered a wave of national outrage and condemnation against the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary.
Initial reports revealed that the woman was arrested during a police operation and placed in a cell where three officers—two regular police and one auxiliary member—allegedly took turns sexually assaulting her overnight. The officers were reportedly under the supervision of their Station Commander, who failed to intervene and has since been arrested.
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| Police Commissioner David Manning |
Police Commissioner David Manning confirmed the arrests of three suspects and stated that a fourth suspect, the auxiliary officer, remains on the run. "The manhunt for the auxiliary member allegedly involved in the rape of a woman at the Saraga Police Post is still underway," Manning said, adding that police were conducting door-to-door searches in heavily populated settlement areas to locate and arrest him.
The Commissioner also revealed shocking findings from an internal inquiry now led by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Internal Affairs. One of the arrested suspects, identified as Karaio, was convicted in 2012 and sentenced to over 14 years in prison. However, he was inexplicably out of custody and had been operating as a police officer. “This is a clear and disgraceful dereliction of duty from Commissioned Officers who owed our public better,” Manning said.
He further criticised the failures of the supervising officers at the time—including the then Metropolitan Superintendent and Divisional Commander—who failed to dismiss Karaio from the force or ensure that he served his sentence. Manning confirmed that under new disciplinary measures, those responsible for this lapse are now being held accountable and face arrest or disciplinary action.
Assistant Commissioner Benjamin Turi ordered the immediate arrest of the Station Commander who oversaw the accused officers, and Operations Chief Inspector Tobby Hamago executed the order. ACP Turi also ordered the closure of the Saraga Police Post and the removal of the vehicle used in the crime.
Meanwhile, Moresby South MP and Housing Minister Justin Tkatchenko has demanded the termination of all officers involved. “How can law enforcement be trusted when its officers behave like criminals?” he said, calling for the incident to serve as a wake-up call to clean up the police force and restore public trust.
Commissioner Manning also warned the public to avoid false information being circulated on social media, urging citizens to rely on verified updates. He reiterated the Constabulary’s zero-tolerance stance against violence, especially toward women, and pledged a full, independent investigation into the incident and all systemic failures that led to it.
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