A/HRC/16/52/Add.5
a wound on his shoulder. No medical treatment was provided by the police what resulted in
an aggravation of his injury at his hand and eventually in its paralysis. This paralysis was
observed and confirmed during a the forensic medical examination, but only medical
complementary examinations to be performed in an hospital environment could give an
idea of its eventually irreversibility. Mr. Anold was represented by a lawyer and hoped to
be released on bail soon. He complained about the lack of water and food and reported
occasional violence among detainees due to the lack of water. He further complained about
the strong smell of urine in the cell block due to the clogged toilets.
A male detainee, aged 21, was arrested on 22 October 2008 by six officers who took him
to the police station. He was sentenced in January 2010 to six years’ imprisonment. He
indicated that he observed a lot of beatings, taking place mainly behind the counter at the
reception area. He explained that the beatings always happened during questioning and did
not lead to the desired results. The beatings were done with 4 x 4 or 4 x 2 timber sticks, fan
belts and police sticks. The last beating dated back to the previous month. Since the
beginning of the year, he had observed about eight beatings.
Solomon Valboula, aged 21, was arrested on 14 November 2006 and transferred to Buka
Police Station on the same day. During the arrest, he was kicked and punched although he
did not resist. When interviewed, he was serving an 18-year sentence. He had not
experienced any further physical abuse since his arrest. Mr. Valboula was concerned about
his personal belongings which had been confiscated upon admission to the police station.
He once requested to be given 200 Kina which he had with him at the time of arrest, but
was sent away by the officers.
Cell 2
A male detainee, aged 25, from Buka, was arrested on 11 January 2010 at the Buka
market, where he had been sitting with a rifle. During the arrest he was beaten on his head
and legs. He was then taken to the Buka Police Station, where he was forced to lie on the
ground with his face down at the entrance gate. He was heavily beaten for about 30
minutes, and he felt electric shocks being applied to his back. The forensic expert identified
several injuries, including heavy beatings with a sharp stick. There were also three marks
on his back which may be the result of electric shocks. He was subsequently put in solitary
confinement for one month, denied any treatment at the hospital despite severe pain, and
prevented from contacting the public solicitor, a judge or his family. It was only on 9
February that he appeared before court. He did not tell the court that he had been tortured
and he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment because of carrying a rifle illegally. He
was to be released on 19 June. He complained that the food was not sufficient, as they only
received two meals per day. Drinking water was ok, but there had been a recent water
shortage and they did not have water for three days. He felt that he was treated unfairly
because he was in detention, while others who committed much more serious offences
remained free.
Michael Northcote, an Australian national aged 46, was arrested on 18 March at sea.
Several police officers in civilian clothes came on to his yacht, pointing their M-16 machine
guns at him, and arrested him. He was arrested together with five other people for drug
possession, but the others had been released. The New Zealand police working in Papua
New Guinea had reportedly obtained his arrest warrant, despite the fact that they were not
supposed to perform police duties. He had been held at Buka Police Station for three days,
and although he had been sentenced on one charge, he had two other trials pending. He was
allowed to leave the cell, walk around town, and buy things that he needed, including a fan
for the cell.
Agustin Binoko, aged 23, had been arrested on 7 January 2007, after he surrendered to the
police. He was still on remand since his case was still pending in court in June 2010. He
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