By Quinton Alomp, EM TV News, Port Moresby
Questions have been raised as to why members of the Western Highlands based police mobile squad have been operating in Jimi District, Jiwaka, for the past seven months.
Claims were also made by former politician Wake Goi that the district is spending heavily to accommodate these policemen.
He claimed that 10 members of the Mt Hagen police mobile squad (05 and 06) are currently based at Tabibuga Station, headquarters of Jimi district.
Questions were raised by the former MP on how much the electorate is spending on their daily allowances, vehicle hire, food and accommodation.
“The main issue is that the district is spending much to accommodate the policemen.
“The Western Highlands and Jiwaka PPCs (Provincial Police Commanders) do not know about the arrangement, it was done by the local MP,” Goi said.
He also said that each officer is being paid K200 in allowances each day with overtime, accommodation and food also thrown in. In total, this could amount to over K700,000 being spent over the course of the past seven months.
However Western Highlands PPC, Martin Lakari, rubbished the claims.
In a telephone conversation Lakari says he was not aware of any mobile squad from Mt Hagen being based in Tabibuga.
Goi has written letters to the Jiwaka and Western Highlands PPCs and the Police Commissioner, Gary Baki, looking to verify the claims.
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