Christmas celebrations quiet

The National National
Police caught these men drinking at the Erima round-about checkpoint in Port Moresby on Friday night.

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
WHILE police operations reported quiet Christmas celebrations across the country, several crimes were reported between Thursday and yesterday in several provinces.
A man from Mt Hagen, Western Highlands, is dead and another two injured in a shooting in Popondetta, Northern, after an armed robbery on Thursday.
Northern police commander Snr Insp Ewai Segi told The National that the man was shot during a robbery at a tucker box.

A police officer checking a vehicle at the Erima checkpoint in Port Moresby on Friday night.

“The only items taken were three cartons of alcohol,” he said.
“The owner who was held up had assistance from three of his relatives. The four men gave chase to the four suspects into the settlements near the outskirts of town.
“Unbeknown to them, the suspects were waiting, when the four men ran after the suspects, they turned and opened fire, shooting the shop owner and two of his relatives.

Officer-in-charge of the motor squad Joseph Pou and criminal investigation division motor squad investigator Israel Henry checking vehicle documents of a driver at a checkpoint in Port Moresby on Friday night.

“The three men were rushed to the hospital, however, the owner died from his injuries.”
Snr Insp Segi said police then stopped the relatives of the deceased from retaliating.
In Madang, two separate police shootings were reported.
Police shot and killed a member of a gang wanted for a string of crimes at Mibu airstrip in Nayudo, Rai Coast.
The deceased had been arrested and was being taken to Madang when he broke free and was attempting to escape when he was shot and killed.

Special services division Sgt Bohoke Geheno, Snr Cnst Richard Rakatani and Ben Ine’e monitoring traffic at a checkpoint in Port Moresby on Friday night.

A teenager was shot and killed by police after returning from a haus krai gathering.
Police are investigating both shooting incidents.
In Port Moresby, on Friday evening, a fire alarm went off at the Moni Plus building which saw police and firemen from Boroko respond to it.

Const Ken Otto controlling traffic at a checkpoint in Port Moresby on Friday night.

Smoke was seen to come out of the building after a loud bang was heard from inside.
It was checked by firemen.

Special services division Sgt Bohoke Geheno and Snr Const Richard Rakatani at a checkpoint in Port Moresby on Friday night.

On the same evening, four men allegedly drunk nearly ran over a police road block at the Erima round-about.
They were stopped, searched and found to have several bank cards belonging to a woman.
Nineteen suspects were arrested for carrying weapons and drugs on Christmas evening in the nation’s capital.
At about 9pm, 19 men were travelling in a vehicle when police stopped the vehicle and initiated a search due to a fight involving two ethnic factions at Bomana that evening.

Traffic policewoman Const Rita Nuauredi at a checkpoint in Port Moresby on Friday night.

Police found several bush knives and marijuana on the men. The men are detained and are facing charges for carrying offensive weapons and drugs.
In Manus, police commander Chief Insp David Yapu reported a quiet Christmas.
He said with additional manpower drawn from Southern mobile group from Port Moresby, had improved his operational capacity.
Chief Insp Yapu urged the people of Manus to maintain their peaceful celebrations into the New Year.
East Sepik police commander Supt Albert Beli said the province was quiet during Christmas except for Wewak and Angoram.
He urged Wewak residents to lodge complaints against those using firecrackers so they could be arrested.