BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Police on Malaita are calling for dialogue after one of its officers was hospitalised following an
assault.

The suspect is reportedly at large and armed.

Auki police say an officer is seeking medical assistance in Honiara after being assaulted by a
community member from Malou village in Small Malaita.

The officer, who is the in-charge of Maka Police Station – in the southern region of Malaita, was
reported to have sustained injuries following an attack by the suspect last week.

Auki police statement said the officer was responding to a report of intimidation alleged to have
been caused by the suspect, when he was assaulted.

The suspect has three cases of intimidation registered at Maka Police Station, police said.
“Maka Police attended a report of threatening, but unfortunately the suspect attacked and strike the
officer with a stick.

“The strikes landed on both his hands and legs, while the officer tried to defend himself,” Auki police
said.

The report added that due to injuries sustained, “the officer was referred to Honiara to seek medical
attention”.

“It was lucky that they disarmed him (suspect) already. If he still holding on to his knife and axe, our
officer would have been killed,” Auki police said.

“In 2019, the suspect indecently assaulted a woman in his community, that left profound negative
impact on the victim.

“The victim’s husband was helpless, stressed and died as a result of the suspect’s intimidation and
threatening,” Auki police said.

The suspect is on run and is reportedly armed with deadly weapons, Auki police said.
A report later received by Auki police, confirmed the suspect has “rearmed himself with bow and
arrow and spear made from steel rode and left again into the bush”.

In light of the threat, young people from surrounding communities gathered at Amopala village – the
village of the complainant to provide security for the vulnerable people in the community.

Investigation into the matter is underway and police are calling for negotiation with the suspect,
whilst assuring security to the people of Amopala community south Malaita.

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