Main shooting suspect meets police

Warring Tari and Enga people settle for peace

 

By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

A MAN, wanted by police for questioning in relation to the killing of former PNG rugby league player and junior rugby league development officer Aquila Emil, turned up at the Boroko police station yesterday and was questioned but no formal charges have been laid, The National reports.

NCD metropolitan superintendent Joseph Tondop said the man could be charged after all investigations and interviews were completed.

The man complied with a request by police for him to voluntarily turn up at the Boroko police station at 1.30pm yesterday with his lawyers.

The suspect had earlier called The National to suggest that he was attending to a traditional obligation in his village but that he would cooperate with police when he returned.

He denied any involvement in the shooting of Emil and told The National five or six other people were involved.

Police are continuing their investigations.

Emil died from a bullet wound to his upper body, discharged at a close range, in the early hours of last Friday morning near the new Lands building after he came out of the Lamana Hotel.

Meanwhile, superintendent of police operation Jim Namora said the people of Tari and Enga residing in Port Moresby had decided to make peace.

He said leaders from the Hela region invited him to a meeting and told him that they were prepared to make peace and would meet at the Boroko police station this morning.

Namora said police knew the identity of those involved in the five killings reported during the ethnic clash and would make arrests soon, however, he called on leaders from the two groups to bring the suspects forward today and surrender them to police.

The ethnic clash occurred two weeks ago.