Papua New Guinean police have threatened to storm the Manus Island detention centre on Thursday night to arrest managers for perverting the course of justice, unless three Australian guards accused of rape are returned for questioning.

PNG police are investigating allegations the trio, who worked for Wilson Security, drugged and gang raped a local woman who also worked at the centre.

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They are angry Australian authorities removed the group from the island ahead of a formal investigation.

The alleged victim had made an official complaint to police on Wednesday morning and supplied some evidence.

Manus Island provincial police commander Alex N’Drasal said he has set a deadline to arrest centre managers after close of business on Thursday unless the three men are flown back to co-operate with the police investigation.

“Their actions have perverted the course of justice,” he told AAP.
Rape convictions carry the death penalty in PNG.
The immigration department on Wednesday confirmed the three staff members had been stood down and returned to Australia over an “incident”.

“The alleged incident was inconsistent with expected behaviours and contrary to the service providers code of conduct,” the department said.

It categorically rejected claims it has been involved in a cover up on the issue.

“The implication that the Wilson staff were removed to avoid prosecution, or removed without consultation with relevant PNG authorities, is simply wrong,” the department said.

The department maintains it has “cooperated fully with PNG police on this matter and will continue to do so”.