By Rebecca Kuku in Port Moresby
Local government officials in Papua New Guinea have offered a cash reward for information after the body of policeman Senior Constable Nelson Kalimda — whose body went missing in Tari, Hela — was found yesterday in Margarima.
The body of Papua New Guinean policeman Constable Nelson Kalimda — who went missing in Tari, Hela — was found yesterday in Margarima after the provincial government put up a cash reward.
Provincial police commander Robin Bore confirmed that the body had been found at the Andapali River in Margarima, near the Margarima-Kandep road.
“We have brought late Kalimda’s body back to Tari,” Commander Bore said.
Police Commissioner David Manning last night said that for those who wore the police uniform this was a personal loss.
“This is someone who has a family, who has served with us, below us or above us. He was one of us,” he said.
“We swore an oath to serve and we will continue to serve despite this loss
‘Our profession has risks’
“Ours is a profession that comes with risks.”
Manning said investigations were being led by some of the most capable officers in the PNG police force to bring swift justice on those involved in the death of Kalimda.
“I issue them a clear warning to anyone involved with Senior Constable Kalimda’s death to not resist arrest when police catch up with them.
“If these suspects threaten police with weapons, our police personnel have full authority to escalate the use of force and to use all appropriate means necessary to take control of the situation.
“Police have made two arrests so far and there are four other persons of interest that are the subject of an ongoing search.”
Kalimda was part of a team that escorted exam papers into Tari and he went missing on October 20.
He was last seen driving out of a guest house in Tari. His car was found last Thursday, a week after he was first reported missing, in a deserted area at the Komo-Hulia district, near Ambua.
Police assisted with fuel
Governor Philip Undialu said the provincial government assisted police with fuel and funding in the search for Kalimda.
Undialu said a suspect from the area had confessed to killing Kalimda in a phone conversation and said that he had thrown Kalimda’s body into the Andapali River.
He said that after the provincial government received the information, a reward was offered for the community to assist police and the PNG Defence Force to find Kalimda’s body.
“The body was recovered just this afternoon [Sunday] by a group of youths, and we will pay them a reward.”
Undialu also called on the suspect, whose identity is known, to surrender to police and appealed to the community to help bring in the suspect.
Rebecca Kuku is a journalist for The National newspaper. Republished with permission.
