News


Monday 02nd July, 2012

Madang mayor arrested

MADANG Town Mayor Mike Kamo was arrested late last Friday by Madang police for allegedly torching a vehicle which belonged to a candidate for the Madang Open Seat.
Madang Provincial Police Commander Superintendent Anthony Wagambie (Jnr) had yet to release an official statement with regards to the incident at the time this report was filed.
However, preliminary reports obtained from police revealed that the vehicle a maroon Nissan Patrol belonged to a local businessman Sam Alloy who is also vying for the Madang Open Seat.
It is understood that Mr Kamo spent Friday night at the Jomba Police Station Cells after being charged by police for arson but was released on K3,000 bail on Saturday and is expected to appear before the Madang District Court.
The Mayor’s motive for setting the vehicle alight is yet to be established by police but it is known that the candidate concerned is his brother in-law. Mr Alloy had on Saturday told reporters that his vehicle was in his elder brother’s procession when the incident happened.
He said his brother had driven back from Riwo when the vehicle ran out of petrol.
He said they had called for help and were waiting when the mayor drove by ordered the occupants of the vehicle away from it before setting it alight.
He claimed the incident to be election related adding this was serious and that he would want to see those responsible face the full force of the law.
“…This is the first time in Madang politics that people have gone as far as torching a vehicle. This is a new trend and one not seen before in Madang.
“Madang people are peace loving and orderly. We know how to conduct ourselves. This certainly is not the Madang way and those responsible must know no one is above the law.
“People must be allowed to move around freely and be allowed to vote the candidate of their choice without any fear.
“The elections in Madang must be seen to be free, fair and safe,” he said.
Friday’s incident drew the ire of several other local candidates from Madang including Former Chief of Police Operations in National Captial District Jim Namora.
Mr Namora described the incident as unbecoming and should not be tolerated by anyone.
He said with polling in Transgogol and Ambenob still continuing, he and other fellow local candidates were also aware that there were some candidates, travelling around with huge sums of cash to induce voters. He sounded a strong warning that this would not be tolerated.
“We (locals from the bush) will be putting up road and anyone found travelling into the area with more than K100 on them will be held and questioned,” he stressed.
Madang’s Returning Officer James Apimia when asked if he was aware of the incident stated he was and that “it’s a family matter” and one that was now before police for further investigations.
Despite this Mr Apimia stated polling to be progressing well.
He said polling in Madang Urban Local Level Government had concluded following an extension.
He said of the five teams assigned to Transgogol LLG, three teams were completed and in Ambenob seven of the 11 teams were done.
He said he was confident all would be done by July 6.
Meanwhile in other election related news in the Madang Open Electorate a candidate supporter was arrested by police on Saturday for having in his procession K14, 000 in cash.
Reports are that the person and others were headed for a polling site in the Amele area outside Madang town with the cash, which is understood to have been used to induce voters, when they were intercepted by police.
Also in the vehicle was another man whom police in Madang had been searching for in relation to a murder case in 2009.
Both were taken to Jomba and locked up. Police have released one on bail while the murder suspect is still behind bars.

Thats even worse than what madang child politician Jim Kas did some years back!

What Mike Kamo did was not a political issue, its a family issue. Šām Aloi kissim two pela sister nonap nā kisim first pikinini meri too šo this happened. Not political.

so what is sam aloy up to? Who is he?