Airmen held up at gunpoint

FOUR airmen from the PNG Defence Force Air Wing had guns pointed at their heads by criminals in Lae yesterday who made off with some of their properties, but left them unharmed.
The incident happened at Three-Mile outside Lae, a place notorious for hold-ups.
The four, led by PNGDF Air Wing Commander Major Albert Tagua, were in a rented vehicle travelling from Lae to Nadzab airport, when the incident occurred.
A witness said Mr Tagua and the airmen slowed down their vehicle to negotiate a huge pothole in the highway, only about 15m from the Three-Mile police station, when four criminals, armed with two factory-made pistols and a home-made rifle, set upon them.
The witness said as they slowed down, the gang went up to them, pointed their guns on their head, and told them to get out.
“They fired shots to sound a warning that they meant business,” the witness said.
Major Tagua and his men got out of the vehicle, and were made to lie face down on the road. The criminals took their navigation bags. They also lost flying headsets, manuals, aircraft checklists and other personal items.
No firearms were stolen as the four were not armed. The criminals escaped before police arrived. The incident happened in full view of the Three-Mile police station, but at the time police personnel at that station were not around.
There were bystanders there, but they watched helplessly as the criminals went about their business before escaping.
Policemen, who arrived later at the station, said they were out attending a parade and were not manning the station, the witness said.
Police and military police in Igam Barracks are investigating the incident.
Lae city police boss Simon Kauba said his men were investigating a hold-up at Three-Mile, but did not give details, promising instead to do so today.

 

Type In Your Name:

Type In Your E-mail:

Your Friend's E-mail:

Your Comments:

Receive copy: