Papua repatriates six PNG policemen

JAYAPURA, Papua: The Jayapura Immigration Office has repatriated six Papua New Guinea (PNG) citizens to their hometown for drunk and disorderly behavior, causing commotion in Tanjung Elmo, a red-light district in Jayapura.

The six men, police personnel, were sent to Wutung at the border between Indonesia and PNG using two immigration cars Friday.

"They hold travel permits, but they are only valid around border areas. They were detained when they were at the red-light district, which is far from the border," said Jayapura Immigration Office head E.R. Silitonga.

He said the six PNG citizens were fetched on the night of April 28 in Tanjung Elmo after police received a report from Tanjung Elmo residents that the men were drunk and making trouble.

They were later taken to the Jayapura Police station and handed over to the immigration office for repatriation.

One, Insp. John Hasimani, denied he and his friends were under the influence of alcohol during the arrest, saying they had gone to Jayapura for pleasure and did not intend to stay for long. - JP