Roku village

Central Provincial Police Commander Acting Superintendent Laimo Asi was invited to and asked to conduct police patrols in the village and arrest offenders.

PPC Asi responded to the invite and visited the village on Monday where an open dialogue was established, allowing the villagers to voice their concerns.

Police were told that the main crime committed in this community was the vandalism of school properties in the village.

From Tatana village; Peter Kavea, Bobby Rarua, Boge Madaha Kevau, Leka Alex Rabia, Tatana Kapia and Nolan Lawrence William went before Magistrate John Kaumi today where their charges were read and explained to them.

The case was adjourned to Nov 22 while police continue their investigations into the incident.

Police will now have three months to produce a hand-up brief to the court and the accused, before the accused’s lawyer can file submissions in response to the investigation files. This has been the practice of the Committal Court process.

Although the number of suspects in police custody is yet to be confirmed, Metropolitan Superintendent Ben Turi says, the CID unit is continuing their investigations into the death of the man.

Three suspects surrendered to police last week.

Turi said he is pleased with the progress as this will give closure to the family of the late victim.

Turi commended the community for their help in apprehending the suspects and to continue to help investigators apprehend the rest of the suspects involved in this unfortunate incident.

Police say the three men from Tatana Village in Central Province surrendered themselves on Tuesday (August 23), telling police that there were five others who were also involved in this incident.

They had followed the deceased, his brother and his three sons, with the intention of only stealing the boat’s outboard motor. However, their confrontation with did not go as expected as the family refused to hand over the motor, said police.

This resulted in the death of the father, who police say was allegedly beaten to death and thrown into the sea.

A reliable source told Loop PNG that police yesterday took back the motor stolen from the boat at a Motu-Koita village. They would not name the village in case the suspects are alerted.

The source added that police intelligence have already identified witnesses and potential suspects in the stealing and murder of the boat owner from Roku Village, in the Kairuku – Hiri electorate of Central Province.

NCD police boss Ben Turi told Loop PNG yesterday that eyewitnesses had already come forward with helpful information on the attackers.

The victim was part of a group of six fishermen from Central Province, including three children, who were out trolling when they were attacked by what they believe were sea pirates. 

Brother of the victim Nanai Heni, who was also a victim himself told media that they went  trolling in the afternoon along with the three sons of the deceased, one a nine-year-old and six-year- old twin boys.

 When recounting the events of yesterday, he said when they were attacked, they both dived into the sea, in fear of their lives but his brother never made it back.