Police

The 21-year-old had played in the Hurricanes 30-14 loss to the Highlanders in the southern city on Friday night.

Barrett fronted media on Sunday morning at Wellington Airport, on his way to the All Blacks' camp in Auckland, saying: "I was not intoxicated". He apologised for the incident.

"I can't say I'm embarrassed by what's happened, I'm just disappointed with the events that have unfolded. I don't believe I've caused any harm to anyone.

"It was a human error, I walked into the wrong flat and then we left.

And police are now appealing to women in the province to be mindful of their timing when moving about.

Acting Superintendent David Seine says most of these rape cases were reported to have occurred between 10pm and 3am.

Committed by opportunists, the PPC extended his appeal to the public in Goroka to be mindful of their surroundings and be accompanied by males when moving about at night.

The shop is located near Lae’s main market area.

According to Lae Police, the men walked into the shop, held up the workers and took away K20,000 cash before escaping in the company van.

The vehicle was abandoned at Papuan Compound.

Lae’s Metropolitan Command’s Sector Response Unit and the CID followed up and apprehended one of the suspects.

He then led them to another suspect who had in his possession a factory made six-round pistol.

More arrests are expected soon.

Investigators have found credible evidence to charge certain employees of the Lae City Council. 

Of the four, three are cashiers and one is an accountant. 

The charges laid are:

1.   A male cashier has been charged one count each on misappropriation, abuse of office and false pretence for the amount of K11,897.44.

2.  A male cashier has been charged one count of misappropriation and stealing for an amount of K20,029.62.

For last week alone, eight incidents were reported to the NCD metropolitan superintendent’s office.

During today’s weekly police briefing, Commander Perou N’Dranou said they received 3 reports of sexual penetration, 3 of child rape and 2 of sexual assault.

Other reports that came in from May 20^th-26^th include:

• 6 reports of stolen motor vehicles
• Fraud (6)
• Break-and-enter (1)
• Armed robbery (2)

“Basically, the crime rate has been steady,” said the met supt.

He said PSC Peter Yaware has been doing a fine job at Kainantu and the province as a whole and his transfer is suspicious.

Governor Numu said Mr Yaware has been in the forefront of investigating a huge corruption surrounding the payment of K7.5m paid to Konka Coffee Development Agency by the National Planning.

He said the payment had been done in 2012 for coffee rehabilitation in Kainantu but nothing to show for on how the funds are being used.

The Police Superintendent of Operations, Michael Tilae, says while they have yet to officially meet with the community members, his units are now responding to calls from Port Moresby’s big village.

Since 2015, there has been a police ban going into the village following the HB shooting incidents which led to a stand-off with police in the area.

In a meeting with the NCD Metropolitan command, leaders have over the last two months began dialogue to get police presence back into the village.

NCD Metropolitan police commander, Perou N’Dranou, says this is part of his efforts to go ‘back to the basics’ of policing.

The Met Supt says his command will focus on getting the basic necessities correct in terms of focusing on people support despite the lack of logistics that at times constrain their work.

The city has in the past three weeks seen an influx of more foot beats and patrols in and around the business and suburban areas.

(Picture: Boroko police out on foot beat)

The NCD Superintendent Operations, Michael Tilae, says that three of the guards that exchanged fire with the suspects will be brought in for questioning.

He says that most likely they may be charged for Unlawful discharge of fire-arms, depending on what investigations uncover.

Tilae said that the guards had injured several people in their exchange of fire with the suspects, hence police will need to establish the next course of action.

The suspect, namely Zhiyuan Cui, also known as Aaron, of Shandon Province, China, and managing director of A & D Consultancy Limited, allegedly offered K10,000 cash to the Officer in Charge of the Gordon’s Police Station minor crimes unit in the National Capital District, Senior Sergeant Apollos Terry.

Police alleged that the bribe was offered as an inducement for police to stop the ongoing investigation and to release confiscated documents and items back to Zhiyuan’s custody.