Bus crew charged with killing PMV driver at settlement

By KARO JESSE
A ROUTE four public motor vehicle bus crew member, in Port Moresby, was charged with killing a route 17 bus driver at 9-Mile’s Bush Wara settlement on Feb 6.
Waigani Commital Court Magistrate Garry Unjo yesterday read the charges against Jerry Kalpera, from Tambul’s Gia village in Western Highlands, who allegedly fatally stabbed Joe Mununga.
Unjo fixed April 28 for second mention of the case and remanded Kalpera in Bomana.
Police alleged that at about 7pm on Feb 6, Kalpera with his driver were in the settlement on their last round of drop offs.
At the settlement’s White Stone area, they found a route 17 and a route 12 buses parked on each side of the road, making a narrow access for others to drive through.
They stopped and asked both drivers to move as the passage was too narrow.
However, both drivers insisted that there was enough space for them to drive through. While they were driving through the narrow passage, Kalpera’s bus scrapped off its back bumper after coming in contact with the route 17’s front bumper.
The passengers in Kalpera’s bus got off and allegedly assaulted Mununga, the route 17 driver who was busy chewing betel nut.
Amid the commotion between the passengers and Mununga, Kalpera allegedly rushed up with a knife and stabbed Mununga in the leg.
Mununga was rushed to the hospital but died soon after admission.
The passengers identified Kalpera who was then arrested.