Officer in Charge of Traffic in Madang, Sergeant Frank Makora, was attacked while controlling traffic at the crossing near Modilon Hospital.
He said he hung his bag (bilum) with his personnel effects on a nearby wall when a thug grabbed his bag and ran towards the public cemetery.
"I was controlling the pedestrians when this happened. Bystanders informed me of my bag being snatched and I chased the thug," he said.
During the chase, the officer tripped and fell. The thug then punched him and took off again.
