By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
The fifth suspect accused of hijacking a plane in a foiled robbery of K4.7 million last November appeared briefly before the Waigani District Court in Port Moresby yesterday, police said.
Simon Magobe, 32, from Homa village in Tari, Southern Highlands appeared before the Court with charges of  robbery, conspiracy, taking firearms into a plane without  declaration, hijacking and depriving someone of liberty.
Police say he and his friends all with similar charges will appear before the same Court again on Jan 21.
They had been remanded at the Bomana prison outside Port Moresby.
These five suspects were accused of hijacking an aircraft carrying K4.5million belonging to the Bank South Pacific (BSP) after it took off from the Jackson Airport last Nov 20 at about 9.45am.
The cash being transported to Kiunga and Tabubil in the Western province was packed in three bullet proof trunk boxes and was taken on board a King air C90 aircraft, operated by Tropicair Ltd.
The two guards of BSP attached with the security division, one of whom was reportedly a reserve police officer believed to be from the Highlands.
But the robbery was foiled due to quick action by the pilots, Civil Aviation Authority officials, police and others involved in tracking down the plane. The money was recovered from the plane, which was forced to land at Fisherman Island, while the two pilots were rescued.
But in an exchange of gunfire with police, one of the hijackers was killed near Roku village along the Motuan coastline on the outskirts of Port Moresby.
Police also confiscated a pump action shotgun and a semi-automatic Sig pistol after the shootout.