Aussie robbed in Madang

By SYLVESTER WEMURU
AN Australian working with the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) was held hostage and robbed in Madang yesterday.
Madang police commander acting Supt Mazuc Rubiang said his mini bus was shot at at Madang’s Furan village by armed men and then they took the man into the bush, searched him, took all his properties and ordered him to drive back to town.
He said the Australian arrived at Jomba Police Station and reported the matter.
Acting Supt Rubiang said the man then identified what had been used to rob him and his properties.
He said the front of the bus had five bullet holes.
“The Australian was travelling from Madang town to Beon when his bus could not make it up the mountain because the road was slippery,” he said.
“When he was trying to climb the mountain at Fran village, he was approached by six armed men who were all armed with guns that were loaded. The man had no choice but surrender to then.
“They searched him, removed all the properties that he had.”
Police are investigating the matter.
Acting Supt Rubiang also said the section of the road heading towards Beon Correctional Institute had been one of the hotspot areas for holdups. He said earlier this year the Furan community were not happy with that and ordered the PNG Water officers to put off water supply to Madang town and told the Madang MP to take action on the settlers living at Sisiak because they had become victims of the settlers.
The villagers also aired their concern that the road condition along that area was poor and that was why many robberies happened.
A Correctional Service officer, during the gathering, also raised concern that the road from Beon to Madang town should be upgraded because they used to transport prisoners to court and many jumped off the vehicle when it slow down.
A village leader also during the gathering at Beon Maus Rot earlier this year raised the issue of removing the settlers at Sisiak because they were causing a lot of problem.