Transcript
The distressing video of the boy's beating was described by Amnesty International Pacific researcher Roshika Deo.
"He appears to be naked. At one point in time in the video there's around four people that are surrounding the boy. He's being kicked and what looks like a stick is being used to beat him. It's very violent and the boy looks in great distress."
The director of the police media unit, Dominic Kakas, says two police officers in West New Britain have been suspended and will be charged after an investigation by police internal affairs.
He says the boy is also facing charges.
"The police men allegedly assaulted the 15-year-old boy after he was allegedly attempting to hold up a young woman. Now the suspect, the 15-year-old boy was arrested, charged and released under the Juvenile Justice Act and is now with his parents. According to reports obtained from the medical team the suspect did not sustain any serious injuries but he will appear in court on Friday."
The assistant police commissioner responsible for PNG's islands, Anton Billie, says the incident has disgraced the force.
"It's unbecoming of police officers to be involved in this kind of thing. They should be the protectors not the perpetrators. We have no place for indisciplined and criminal police officers within the rank and file of our PNGC."
But Roshika Deo says police brutality is common in Papua New guinea.
"Actually its not unusual. In fact Human Rights Watch had reported, between 2007 and 2014 I understand, over 1600 complaints of police abuse were received by the internal affairs. Also the UN special rapporteur on torture had made a country visit several years ago that also revealed there was widespread police brutality and abuse."
Dominic Kakas says brutality is not tolerated in the PNG police.
"The police commissioner and his top management, commissioner Gari Baki has always been very vocal about police discipline and professionalism. Policemen are expected to be disciplined and not abuse and assault members of the public. Unfortunately such incidents have occurred but they are isolated. The public can rest assured that we are taking action against the bad apples in the police force and we will continue to do so."
Dominic Kakas says while the 15-year-old boy is likely facing charges of attempted robbery his treatment by police will not go unpunished.
