Port Moresby/Post Courier: AN international award winning female police officer and mother of five was bashed up by her policeman husband last week in Mt Hagen.
While the police force is taking a strong stand against wife bashing, rouge officers and brutality, Sergeant Susan Mondiai, the younger sister of Momase Divisional Police Commander Nema Mondiai, received serious facial wounds, allegedly for the third time she has been hit on her face by her husband, who is also a senior police officer.
Segeant Mondia who is in charge of the Community Policing section claimed that in 2001, her husband broke her hand, and the same hand was broken again while it was still in the healing process.
In 2006, she said an assault left her with a deep cut on the forehead – the imprints of the stiches are still visible.
Mondiai received a prestigous Asia Pacific award in Excellence in Policing in 2010 from the Australian Council of Women and Policing after beating 200 other nominees.
Her award presentation hit the front page of the Australian Magazine ‘Women and Policing’ in 2011.
“I have been vocal on domestic violence in the media and in public gatherings, advising victims. I’ve forgiven him for too long. Now I have to stand on my teachings,” the officer said.
“My father was a police officer with the rank of Sergeant; my big brother is the ACP Mamose; and my younger brother is a constable in Goroka. My family has a heart to enforce law and order and look after our people,” the officer who hails from Water Bung in Daulo, Eastern Highlands province, said.
Mondiai said the recent assault occurred following an argument over some family matters and misunderstandings.
An angry Provincial Police Commander Martin Lakari yesterday arrested and charged Inspector Jacob Kamiak for assault.
Superintendent Lakari said: “There is a zero tolerance in place for police officers to assault their wives or anybody for that matter. They are not above the law. Kamiak is a senior officer and it’s a disgrace to the police department.”
The victim’s brother Nema Mondiai on Tuesday warned all policemen in the Momase area that abuse of authority and brutality would not be tolerated.