Police in Lakes State have encouraged the residents of
Awerial County to report any officer who demands payment for police abstract.
Known as Form-8, it is a document or form that is issued by
the police, as proof of a complaint or case involving an accident or a
particular crime.
Obtained free of charge, it is often used to get treatment
during emergencies at all hospitals.
However, some Mingkaman residents say the police station in
the area demands 10,000 Pounds for it.
“When I got injured in an accident along the Maghok-Dor Road
last month, and I was unconscious, my family was asked to pay 10,000 SSP for Form-8,”
Alier Manyok Kuoi-loi, resident, told Mingkaman on Friday.
This week, eyewitnesses said a young boy was turned away
from the station due to lack of 10,000 Pounds.
They said the unnamed minor’s mother had to return him to
the village untreated for stab wounds.
“We regret that some police officers charge people illegally
to obtain police Form-8,” said Maj. Elijah Mabor Makuach, police spokesperson.
“Early this week, we went on radio to make announcement over
this, and we gave out our numbers to the public - my number and that of the police
commissioner - so that our people could report such cases to us.”
The police spokesperson warned that any police officer found demanding
money to obtain Form-8 will be arrested and charged in accordance with the law.