A 38-year-old male person was arrested for consuming liquor in public in Auki township over the weekend

Auki police have arrested a 38-year-old male suspect for consuming liquor in a public place in Auki township over the weekend.

Supervising Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Malaita Province, Superintendent Michael Ramosaea, said the suspect was seen drinking alcohol with his friends near the Malaita Provincial Headquarters in Auki town.

PPC Ramosaea said when police approached him, he continued drinking the alcohol, and he escaped from the officers, running down towards the town area, but was chased and later arrested.

Superintendent Ramosaea said he was taken to the police station, searched, and placed in police custody. He has been charged with consuming liquor in a public place contrary to section 65 of the Liquor Act and will appear before the Auki Magistrates’ Court on a later date.

“I appealed to the general public to respect public places, which are not places for drinking alcohol. Police will continue with their high-visibility operations on weekends, and police will not tolerate people drinking alcohol in public, causing nuisances, and drinking while in a motor vehicle,” said PPC Ramosaea.