Missing vehicle recovered in NIP
By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
A businessman’s car missing in Port Moresby for seven months after allegedly been stolen was recovered last week in the New Ireland province (NIP), Kavieng police said yesterday.
Police are now investigating a senior commercial bank officer and a shipping agent in Kavieng about how the car was shipped to Kavieng from Port Moresby under the bank officer’s name, couple of days after the car was reported stolen.
Police were able to know the rightful car owner and to confirm the circumstances with the help of the Motor Vehicle Insurance Ltd and detectives from the Motor Vehicle Squad (MVS) in Port Moresby.
Kavieng guest house manageress Margaret Paika, 29, from Losu village in NIP, with three other suspects had been accused of having in their possession of the car and had appeared before the Kavieng District Court last Monday with charges of hindering police investigation and in possession of stolen property.
Lale Paika, 24, Kopa Paika, 19, and Richard Kilala, 30, all from Losu appeared before the same court with similar charges.
All are out on K300 bail each and will appear again on May 7.
Police said the car was formerly with the senior bank officer and later repainted in black and resold to Miss Paika.
“The car was allegedly stolen from businessman Daniel Takendu about 11.30pm the Sir John Guise stadium along the Waigani Drive last July 7,” police said.
It was alleged that Mr Takendu was going home after attending a function at the Waigani country club, when he was bumped into the safety posts been lined up along the reconstructed Waigani Drive.
When he came out to check if the vehicle had sustained any damage from the posts two men with a pistol approached, grabbed and dumped him on the ground and took off with his car.
The car was in its original white colour but with different plate number BBV 525, when it was shipped to Kavieng.
“MVS detectives told us that the number plate was also stolen from another car in Port Moresby and its original number plate is BBS 159,” police said.
Police said they stumbled onto this stolen car after the car was involved in a road accident with another car in Kavieng town last Feb 3.
“The driver who is also alleged to be from Losu is still at large after the accident and the matter was reported to us by the grieving party.
“Upon investigation, we discovered the car to be stolen,” police said.
Meanwhile, Mr Takendu told The National from Kavieng that he praised the Lord Almighty for the recovery and also praised the Kavieng police for the excellent job done.
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