Image: OIC Gordons Minor Crimes Senior Sergeant Apollo Terry with the K110,000.00 cash bribe during an investigation of a suspected human trafficking network.
A policeman will serve four years in jail after he was convicted on two counts of official corruption and aiding a person to escape.
Probationary Constable Jonathan Kara, 27, of Kelua 2, Western Highlands Province was sentenced on July 3 by Justice Nicholas Miviri at the Waigani National Court in Port Moresby.
Kara was found guilty under section 87 (1) and 138 (a) of the PNG Criminal Code respectively. In February 2017, Moses Andia, 30, of Tambul Western Highlands Province was arrested and detained at the Gordon police cells for insulting a person.
He was arrested by Sergeant Jimmy Maiko under section 7(b) of the Summary Offences Act (SOA) but later escaped from police custody. He was again re-arrested for causing a traffic offence.
Andia told the police investigators that Constable Kara received K300 in bribe to release him from custody. A police investigation also revealed that Kara released another inmate from the cells on the same day.
Another suspect Weirak Mark was arrested and detained by Kara but later released from custody. He was also accused of selling some stolen mobile phones. Constable Kara sent the file to the Prosecutions unit at Boroko police station but released him from police custody.
The Prosecutors took the matter to the Boroko District court but without the appearance of the defendant. After numerous listings and court proceedings, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.
Mark later revealed to the police that K200 in bribe was paid to Kara for his release from the Gordon Police cells. These two cases were referred to Detective Senior Sergeant Apolos Terry who arrested and charged the probationary Constable. Senior Sergeant Terry is the officer in charge (OIC) of the Gordons Minor Crimes Unit which recently investigated a suspected human trafficking network and refused K110,000.00 cash bribery.
