A refugee advocate says an Iranian refugee on Manus Island has been bashed by two Papua New Guinea immigration officers for staying at a pub past his curfew.
Photo: SUPPLIED / Refugee Action Coalition
Refugee Action Coalition's Ian Rintoul says for refugees living outside the Manus detention centre, in East Lorengau, there is a 6pm to 6am curfew.
He says two immigration officers found Iranian man, Mohsen, drinking at a pub with locals at about 9.30pm and repeatedly punched and manhandled him before taking him away.
Mr Rintoul says locals at the pub were supportive of Mohsen.
"I mean it was nice to see in that respect that locals were backing Mohsen up, but it did nothing to prevent the assault, although now that a complaint has been made to the police we are hopeful that the locals will be witnesses to the assault and it will be very telling actually whether the police proceed to lay charges because the identification of the officers involved in the assault is very clear."
Pacnews reports the PNG Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Rimbink Pato has confirmed an investigation is underway into the alleged severe beating.