BUIN POLICE COMPLETE INVESTIGATION

 

RSIPF SAY THEY ARE NOW INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT

RSIPF border patrol boat.

UPDATE:

BUIN POLICE ESTABLISH ASSAULT ON FISHERMEN 

BY PETERSON TSERAHA of Post-Courier

South Bougainville police have now established an official report regarding the assault of two Bougainvilleans by Solomon Islands border police.

The Papua New Guineans were named as Watson Leo 24, and Tauku Ledie Tobaea, 21 who was identified as being part Malaita, Solomon Islands, and part Buin, PNG.

The report was compiled by Bougainville Police Service South Bougainville Regional Commander Prichard Hukambari.

The investigation into the alleged assault was conducted by Mr Hukambari after an official complaint was made by a relative Boaiz Garaza in the company of one of the fishermen at Buin police Station on Feb 10.

A copy of the complaint and investigation report was made available to the Post-Courier.

The investigation confirmed that both men were fishing just inside PNG waters when they were stopped by Solomon Islands border police and allegedly beaten up.

The two fishermen told police they were beaten up with paddles from their boat.

They reported that at one point, a policeman pointed his gun at them and told them to jump overboard and swim back to Buin, but they refused.

The RSIPF police commissioner Mostyn Mangau had initially denied the claims when first reported, and had promised last Wednesday (Feb 16) to respond when Elaine Tobaea, the mother of Tauku raised the issue on social media.

A few hours ago tonight, his media office sent a statement confirming that the RSIPF police are now investigating claims by two PNG fishermen who say they were bashed while fishing at the border. (See separate post for Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau's statement).

Mrs Tobaea said her son, who went to school in New Georgia, Solomon Islands, recognised one of the policeman as being from Malaita. 

The policemen were believed to have come from the RSIPF base at Kariki. 

The Buin police investigation confirmed that both men were beaten up and received injuries to parts of their bodies as a result.

However, both did not present medical certificates to confirm treatment they had received as a result of the injuries suffered.

The police report read: “One of them got a bruise across his forehead whilst the other got bruises on his neck and at the back of his shoulders as a result of the direct strike from the paddle by one of the PRT officers.

“During this encounter, the PRT officers also forced the two young men to jump off their boat and swim back to their village which they both resisted.

“When they hesitated, one of the PRT officers pointed a high-powered weapon direct to the two young men and threatened to shoot them. The young men were later released by PRT officers back to their village after all their ill actions.”

The alleged attack had angered the Orava Sari community in Konnou constituency who threatened to take the law into their own hands and retaliate but were stopped by the elders of the community.

Buin Police Station received and registered the complaint referencing Occurrence Book number 353/22 by informant relative Boiaz Garaza and one of the victims on Thursday, February 10,  2022.

It was about three (3) days after the actual incident occurred on Monday February 7, 2022 at about 10 am.

Mr Mangau said the RSIPF is now coordinating with RPNG Constabulary and Bougainville Police Service to look into the matter.

Mrs Elaine Tobaea, mother of fisherman Tauku who was beaten up by Solomons border patrol officers.