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Top cop attacked
By SAMPSON BONAI
ACTING divisional police commander for
Mamose region Assistant Commissioner Giossi Labi and his son Elias and
two of their relatives narrowly escaped death when they were attacked by
armed criminals in the early hours of Saturday morning at Voco Point
beach in Lae.
In retaliation over the attack, 22 houses were burnt down in the nearby
Keks settlement where Labi’s alleged attackers are believed to be
residents.
Six suspected were rounded up and detained for questioning (see separate
stories on page 4).
Mr Labi had gone to Voco Point to pick up Elias and two other men after
leaving the members’ key-draw night function at the Lae Yacht Club.
“My son and the two men were standing outside of the vehicle when the
armed gang of about 11 approached them and ordered them at gunpoint to
lie on the ground. “Then they came to me and demanded money from me,” Mr
Labi told The National at his house yesterday.
He told them who he was but they shouted the “K” word at him and
demanded money from him. “As I opened the door of the vehicle and got
out one of them stabbed me on my right shoulder three times and I
retaliated and hit one of them.”
“Then another came and swung a bush-knife at me and I ducked avoid the
blow but was slashed on my forehead and right cheek.”
“One of the assailants charged at me from behind with a bayonet and my
son who was lying on the ground got up and tackled him to the ground and
I realised that we were in big trouble with blood dripping down my face
and I ran towards the Lutheran Shipping main office to ask for help,” Mr
Labi said.
“My son (Elias) and the two men who were also stabbed in their back got
into the vehicle after the criminals fled, came and pick me up near the
Lutheran Shipping main gate and we drove off to Tusa Private Hospital to
seek medical treatment,” he said.
The police chief said he did not know the motive behind the attack on
them as his son went and bought cigarettes at the nearby 24-hour trading
market before the attack took place.
Mr Labi was stabbed three times in his right shoulder, his right cheek
and forehead.
Elias was stabbed on the back and the other two men also received stab
wounds to the back after they were ordered to lie down on the ground
face-down.
They had their wounds stitched and were administered with antibiotics
drugs and discharged.
 
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