By Theckla Gunga – EM TV News, Port Moresby
Police have identified the deceased driver of the vehicle involved in the police chase in Port Moresby last Thursday, as being a “known criminal.”
NCD Commander, Assistant Commissioner Sylvester Kaluat, said a post mortem was completed yesterday and an official medical statement will be released by the Port Moresby General Hospital.
The incident involved police shooting at the vehicle, which killed the driver and injured the passenger.
In an off-camera interview with the NCD Commander, Assistant Commissioner Kalaut said police also knew the female passenger who was with the deceased driver.
“Police have identified the female passenger and know the identity of the deceased driver. The female passenger has been interviewed by police today.
“The deceased is a known criminal to police and hails from the Highlands,” said Kalaut.
According to police reports the incident occurred last Thursday night when the vehicle sped past a police roadblock at Tokarara.
Police then chased the vehicle from Tokarara into Morata, before firing gunshots that killed the driver and injured the passenger who is a PNGDF soldier.
Last Friday, the day after the shooting, members of the PNGDF retaliated and assaulted two police officers, and destroyed three police vehicles at Manu Auto port.
In a joint police and defence force conference later that day, an investigation team was set up to look into the shooting.
This team includes investigators from the criminal investigation division headed by OIC CID, Godwin Dukaduka.
Commanding Officer of the First Battalion Pacific Islands Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Edison Naypo, said he is willing to surrender the soldiers involved in the assault of the police officers and the destruction of police vehicles.
This morning, a press statement released by Commissioner Gari Baki said investigations into the shooting have already commenced and senior officers from both disciplinary forces have agreed to charge the officers involved.
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