COMMISSIONER of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Mostyn Mangau has refuted claims by Malaita for Democracy president Knoxly Atu that police are taking directives from the Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA).
In a statement today (21st March) Mr Mangau said the RSIPF is an independent organisation and is not taking directives from the DCGA as mentioned by Mr Atu.
“I am not taking directives from the government as mentioned by Mr Atu.
“Police involvement in the arrest of Mr Atu is not attached to any directives from the DCGA,” Mr Mangau said.
Mr Mangau was responding to claims which Mr Atu made recently and published in the Solomon Star on 20th March 2022.
Mr Atu said one of the reasons why he refused to surrender to police for questioning is because Mr Mangau is taking directives from DCGA and is not neutral.
Therefore, he said he will not get proper and fair treatment by police because of the influence DCGA had on the current Police Commissioner.
However, Mr Mangau said Mr Atu has committed offences relating to the civil unrest last year and he needs to surrender himself to the police.
He also appealed to the people of Bethel community in East Fataleka to surrender Mr Atu.
“I strongly appeal to Mr Atu to surrender.
“Otherwise, police will continue with its mandatory functions of enforcing law and order and continue to hunt in the coming days.
“My officers try to dialogue with community elders and even negotiate for the safe surrender of Mr Atu but nothing forthcoming.
“Police investigate and arrest people who commit crimes when evidence is available.
“If you have any complaints, provide statements with evidence to support police investigation,” Commissioner Mangau said.
