Manus bus hijacking by father of alleged rape victim 'a matter for PNG police'
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Version 0 of 1. The Australian immigration department says the hijacking of a Manus Island detention centre bus and truck by the father of an alleged rape victim is a matter for the local police. “This [hijacking] incident is a matter for the Manus provincial police,” a department spokesman said in a statement on Wednesday. Related: Exclusive: woman allegedly raped in Manus detention centre accuses Transfield of cover-up Three Australian guards, who were stood down and sent home following an incident in mid-July, could have faced a death sentence if convicted of rape in PNG. Papua New Guinea MP Ron Knight said on Monday the man and his supporters seized the bus belonging to the centre operator because they were angry the guards had not faced justice. The victim of the alleged rape told her story to Guardian Australia in an interview published last week. Manus Island provincial police commander Alex N’Drasal confirmed a “relative” of the alleged victim hijacked the 25-seater bus on Monday as it was travelling back from the airport. The bus was returned to the Manus detention centre operator Transfield Services half an hour later. Police are investigating the incident and considering laying charges, N’Drasal said. Knight said the group had machetes but no one was harmed. |