Port Moresby (The National):A FEMALE police officer has claimed that her husband, who holds a senior rank in the constabulary, bashed her up last week.
Sergeant Susanne Mondia, the officer in charge of community policing in Mt Hagen, has urged the constabulary’s hierarchy to address violence against women in the force before going out to the communities.
Mondia showed injuries to her face and body after she was allegedly assaulted by her husband, a senior officer based with the public safety division at the Mt Hagen police station.
Mondia said gender-based violence in the country had gone worse, especially within the force.
“I have decided to expose this in public (so that) every policeman’s wife needs to expose what they are experiencing with their violent husbands,” she said.
“This is not the first time I got a bashing from my violent husband.
“I sustained several injuries and I have to speak out so that the police hierarchy has to act and protect us from (wife) bashing.”
Provincial police commander Chief Supt Martin Lakari could not be reached for comments yesterday.
Mondia plans to seek a court order preventing her husband from assaulting her again.
“I normally take up the lead to address violence against women in the province but it won’t be good for me to go around with a swollen face and wearing dark glasses.
“These are real problems as many policewomen are seen with dark glasses after being assaulted by their husbands.
“So many times I get beaten up but we normally solve it at home,” she said. “This time I’m leaving it to the police hierarchy and the law to deal with it.”
Mondia was the first policewoman in Western Highlands to set up the family violence unit at the Mt Hagen police station. She also received an award from the Australian Council of Women policing in 2010.