Taskforce boss arrested

By TODAGIA KELOLA

COORDINATOR of the Government sanctioned Taskforce team ‘Rausim Aliens’ that was set up to investigative illegal aliens has been arrested and charged by police for illegally being in possession and using a confiscated licensed firearm.
Mr John Bria was arrested by NCD Police along with another person, one James Anton Brea for impersonating police last Friday.
NCD Metropolitan Commander Peter Guinness told the Post Courier that Mr Bria was arrested after a complaint was laid by a Malaysian man in Madang who had his licensed firearm confiscated by the team and despite being cleared the gun was not returned to him.
“An investigation was carried out and it was revealed that the firearm was confiscated but never stored away or taken to the Registrar of Firearms or the Commissioner of Police. Instead police alleged that Mr Bria kept the firearm and it was used by him and the team on various occasions, although it was supposed to be a confiscated firearm that was supposed to be kept in a safe or given back to the Commissioner of Police for safe keeping then used as a court exhibit. This was never done by Mr Bria,” Mr Guinness said.
He was charged with two counts under the Firearms Act while another person was charged with assault and impersonation.
Mr Guinness expressed concern that while the Taskforce team was set up to investigate illegal immigrants, the members have gone out of their terms of references and have been doing police work like confiscating firearms and other items.
“I appeal to the Immigration officers in the team that there should be a clear line on their responsibilities and they must not try to do police work. Many complaints have been raised (by people) that their items were confiscated and they are yet to get them back. It is a police duty to check firearms and if they are unlicensed then a firearm is confiscated. If it’s legal then there is no point in confiscating it,” he said.
Mr Guinness also said there are other complaints laid by many of those that had their things confiscated, including alleged extortion and those charges will be slapped on the two men once they are received.
Mr Bria is still in custody while Anton Brea has been released on bail. Attempts to talk to the Chief Immigration Officer who is the chairman of the team yesterday were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile Mr Bria who is calling on the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his government to establish a Commission of Inquiry into the conduct of police over the bribery cases recently uncovered by his team involving Zhen Niugini Limited in Port Moresby.
Mr Bria alleged his arrest was in connection to this case
and many other cases the taskforce is investigating in the country.
He said he believed that so much money was involved in his arrest and that police fabricated stories to have him arrested.
The taskforce boss questioned why policemen involved in the taskforce who were responsible for the firearms for exhibits were never arrested.
“I was not using this firearm, some of these policemen who arrested me were part of my team and they were carrying this exhibit firearms,” Mr Bria said.
“Also, I am not a criminal and was made to stay inside Six – Mile police cells from 10pm on Friday without attending to me until Saturday 7pm when they formally charged me for something I did not do. I was even refused bail until my lawyers made an urgent submission through Magistrate Cosmos Bidar who ordered my bail and the release of the vehicle locked up at the Six – Mile police station,” he said.
Mr Bria challenged policemen who arrested him to also arrest those policemen who are involved in the bribery case involving Zhen Niugini Limited to illegally arrest and charge another foreigner in the country last month.