Murder

Security forces, consisting local police and PNG Defence Force personnel, rescued the woman with minor injuries and are treating the situation as an isolated case.

Enga Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Acting Superintendent George Kakas, has expressed his satisfaction with the emerging trend in Enga where tribes are increasingly turning to the law to deal with grievances rather than resorting to violence.

The police have been working to build trust and cooperation with local communities in order to promote peaceful conflict resolution.

The protest was due to the tragic death of taxi driver, Wanpis Kondowa yesterday, who was murdered along the Papa-Lealea route and found at the Boera junction. 

Kondowa from Mt Hagen, Western Highlands Province was taken in by St John Ambulance and left at the 3mile morgue.

This was a recent murder, which occurred after the death of another taxi driver in February of this year at Nine Mile on the outskirts of Port Moresby.

A concerned taxi driver, Benji Londe, who was part of the convoy stated that the sudden death has left bus and taxi drivers in disbelief.

The suspect was alleged to have killed Nigel Hovi following an ongoing feud.

On February 12 the suspected murderer was caught and handed over to police by Mr Wafi and this prevented further fights in the area.

It was reported that the deceased was attacked by two suspects and sustained cuts to his body. Wewak Police stated that Hovi was hit by an oncoming vehicle while he was staggering on the road trying to seek help. The deceased was taken to Boram General Hospital but was pronounced dead.

Provincial Police Commander, Senior Inspector Patterson Birigi said the five suspects were slain by angry relatives, after they found them while hiding in a remote village in Fane LLG.

“The gang led by Awa Pilot was believed to be responsible for various crimes around the Tolokuma area until they met their fate,” said PPC Birigi.

He was new on the job. East Sepik Provincial Police Commander Superintendent Christopher Tamari said police in Wewak are investigating the matter.

According to the police brief, Silva Bunat, 27 from Shagur Village was attacked by 12 people whose identities have been provided to police by locals.

PPC Tamari said it has been alleged that the twelve, after consuming liquor, went to Bunat`s house and attacked him. He was slashed in his neck several times and died.

The Central police officers attached to the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) are in charge of the investigations. 

According to police, it was alleged that the woman was in her house when the suspect approached her from the back and slashed her neck with a bush knife. 

The CID officers confirmed this when they arrived at the crime scene to examine the body. He said police have also collected statements from eyewitnesses.

NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Silva Sika confirmed that the man is the late woman's husband.

Sika also stated that the man was on the run after committing the offence. He said he was finally caught and is now detained at the Hohola Police Station cell.
 
"He will be questioned about the crime committed and will be charged accordingly. I want to commend the hard working officers who did the dawn raid and apprehended the suspect,” Sika said. 

Provincial Police Commander Superintendent David Seine Jr said one of the suspects was arrested on the same day, while the other who is alleged to be the main suspect was on the run until his apprehension by the police officers from Walium. 

PPC Seine Jr said according to a police brief, it was alleged that the deceased identified as Newman James adult male from Waput village was at Naru to organise a soccer tournament when he was stabbed to death. 

This newsroom visited the site along Bruce Jepchot Highway with police officers and confirmed the deceased as Newman James from ward 16, Waput village of Usino-Bundi Usino LLG. 

According to information gathered at the crime scene, it was alleged that the suspect who was under the influence of liquor went with his friends to the grandstand where the tournament officials were and cut the decoration at the grandstand. While doing that, James, who was in the field walked towards the suspect. 

East Sepik provincial police commander Superintendent Albert Beli said that the late Kufai was attacked in his own house by a known suspect brandishing a bush knife. Kufai allegedly died from blood loss after the suspect severely cut him in his lower left leg. Police alleged that Kufai’s attacker was intoxicated when he committed the crime.