Alotau

“We go back to 2013, ’14, ’15 and up until today, this situation continues to persist,” says Milne Bay Provincial Administrator, Michael Kape.

“I as the administrator of this province, I appeal to community and leaders at all levels to stand together and address this issue.

“Government has been spending a lot of resources, in particular finances. We bring in the task force to attend to this situation but this law and order situation is still persisting. And something has got to be done about it.

He said police will carry out its own internal investigation into the reported actions of its officers in Alotau over the last few months.

Commissioner Baki said he is responsible for the management of the Constabulary and will ensure that policemen respect the rights of the public whilst carrying out their constitutionally mandated duties.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Justice and Attorney General Davis Steven has made it clear that the Public Solicitor has been tasked to attend to any grievances the public may have about police actions over the last two weeks in Alotau.

A special PEC meeting was held on Tuesday, January 29^th, and the public will be advised of the outcome in due course.

The mayhem in Alotau is believed to have escalated after police set on fire a house belonging to the parents of one of the gang members, namely Michael Yauwi or better known as Mekere.

The house situated near the police barracks was torched after police believed the house was used by notorious Tommy Baker, Mekere and their gang.

The two bodies were found in the toilet compartment of unit six of the police duplex that was set on fire allegedly by Alotau’s notorious criminal gang leader Tommy Baker and his members. The son was found next to the toilet pot and the mother not far from him, all covered in ashes.

The sad discovery was made early the next morning when PNG Power and the Provincial Works Unit were called in to assess and assist clear the ruins of the burnt houses in the police barracks.

A 40-men team from the Police Air Tactical Unit flew into Alotau early Friday morning to maintain law and order.

Deputy Commissioner of Police and Chief of Operations, Jim Andrews, said they will be followed later by an investigative team of detectives and forensic officers from Port Moresby.

Milne Bay Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector George Bayagau said business houses have opened but have been told to be on high alert.

Commissioner Baki confirmed that a mobile squad team is being deployed to Alotau to assist the local police with the recent string of violent sea piracy and robbery.

Baker, who was detained at Bomana CIS, escaped last year on October 3rd at the Port Moresby General Hospital while receiving medical treatment. Commissioner Baki said it would take a lot of time, effort and money to re-arrest Baker.

NSL are the grand final winners for 2018 Alotau Mixed Netball with Magisubu following behind.

In the main grand final clash, NSL beat Magisubu 22-14 while Charscorp beat Gala Mix 22-18.

The Alotau Netball Association hosts the Mixed Netball Competition as the association’s fund raiser, said Alotau Mixed Netball Competition tournament director, Vele Israel.

Israel said apart from this, the association also wants to promote mixed netball into the national mixed level.

She said the mixed competition began in 2012.

The Commissioner said 10 were sent on Monday to assist local police prevent opportunists from taking advantage of the locals’ frustration.

Commissioner Baki also confirmed that the officer driving the vehicle, was a member of the Lae Police who travelled in two patrol boats in to Alotau for a pit stop, before heading out to Port Moresby.

He said while there, local police asked for assistance after reports came that a hard-core criminal, who escaped jail in Port Moresby, was in town.

Milne Bay Acting Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector George Baiyagau, said the robbers targeted the estate’s BSP ATM machine and made away with cash in the ATM.

Chief Inspector Baiyagau said the robbery took place at 3am.

He said the seven fully armed suspects used a chainsaw to cut through the estate’s wooden fence to gain access, then held up the security guards and proceeded to use the chainsaw to cut open a shop’s door.

They then used the chainsaw again to cut around the wall that was holding the BSP ATM, which was in the store.

An eyewitness who was stuck in the bank during the whole ordeal confirmed this with Loop PNG.

He said he saw everything from where he was standing in the bank.

During that time, he saw two suspects come out of a white 10-seater vehicle.

“The Alotau enterprises was trying to bank their money… I think they were trying to intercept that bank run,” said the eyewitness.

One armed man had a mask over his face and was holding a high-powered automatic weapon.