By SHEILA LASIBORI
POLICE have charged four men in relation to the hijacking of a light weight aircraft which was rerouted for Western province on Monday transporting a total of K4.7 million belonging to the Bank South Pacific.
It is understood the four men were charged last night under the Civil Aviation Act and Criminal Code Act (Chapter 262) for hijacking and armed robbery.
Each man was slapped with five charges.
Information made available to police prosecutors stated the charges were laid on Gima Tom and Allan Augerea from Central province; Paulus Kila of mixed parentage of Simbu and Central; and Peter Biari from Southern Highlands.
The five charges laid on each man under the Criminal Code Act were in breach of Section 515 (conspiracy), S260 (hijacking), S386 (1) (2) Clause (a) (b) (c) for armed robbery and S355 (deprivation of liberty) and under the CAA Act was S267 (taking a firearm on board an aircraft).
The charges were worded with assistance from the Public Prosecutors Office and CAA.
The Police Media Unit confirmed the names of the accused last night, adding the men were part of an eight-member gang (including the deceased) involved in the hijack and robbery.
It is understood one of the men, at that time a suspect, who was picked up with the two pilots, has been cleared by police.
According to BSP’s Michael Kumono, a security officer attached with its Security Division has been cleared by police as he was put on the escort team at the 11th hour to accompany Jimmy Gabriel (now deceased) in escorting the money to Kiunga and Tabubil.
It was also revealed that Mr Kumono had tried to stop the gunman from pointing the Sig pistol at the pilot while in flight.
But he was forced to remain still when a mossback pump action gun was pointed at him.
It is also understood the BSP management including its senior security officers in the company of police officers counted the money that was packed in three trunk boxes at its Port Moresby headquarters and have confirmed that nothing was missing.
The total amount is K4.7 million and not K5 million as reported as it was just an estimation of what was on the plane initially.
However, according to police, identities of the three suspects still at large are known and they should be arrested soon.