LORENGAU – A Papua New Guinea MP says police are investigating the alleged rape of a Manus island woman at the Australian-run detention centre by three expatriate workers.

The woman who ended up naked in a room with three Australian Manus Island guards said she was drugged and raped, according to local MP Ronnie Knight.

Police in Papua New Guinea have called on Australia to respect the country’s sovereignty after the three Australians were sent home before police could investigate allegations of drug use.

PNG police said the men and the local woman were found naked, drunk and sniffing an unidentified substance in mid-July.

“They were having beers and sniffing some hard stuff when they removed all their clothes and exposed their bodies,” Manus Island police commissioner Alex N’Drasal said.

N’Drasal said he had not heard any reports of rape or prostitution, but was awaiting further information from Australia’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP).

He said he had wanted to investigate the incident but the men were promptly sent home.

“I was mad. I blasted the DIBP guys to bring back these guys and be charged in Manus,” Commander N’Drasal said.

Papua New Guinea’s most senior policeman, Gari Baki, also expressed his anger.

“It gives one very clear indication that we have literally not much say what goes on within the detention camp and I think we need to change that,” he said.

“We are a sovereign nation. We have a police force that is competent to do the investigations and it must be given that responsibility.”

A DIBP spokeswoman denied knowledge of the incident.

“However, the department is aware of the death of a locally engaged subcontractor in the Manus community over the weekend and understands the PNG police are investigating the circumstances,” she said.

In an unrelated incident on the weekend, an off-duty local worker at the detention centre was allegedly murdered and another has reportedly had a hand severed. The incidents are not thought to be due to their work at the detention centre.

But Knight warns the detention centre is pushing the Manus community to breaking point. “The camel has had its last straw put on its back, and when it’s broken, it will be embarrassing for both the Australian and PNG governments. At the moment people are getting really tired of what’s happening,” he said.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young expressed concern over the alleged increase of violence on the island.

“What on earth is going on inside Manus Island? Reports of rape, murder and machete attacks paints a picture of Manus in meltdown,” she said.

“The Australian Government must front up and tell the public what is going on.

“Playing secret squirrel over allegations that are this serious is not acceptable from a government that is spending billions of taxpayers dollars to keep this hellhole open.”