Church elder injured in city attack

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Thursday 02nd August, 2012

By JUNIOR UKAHA
A CHURCH leader sustained a broken arm after he was allegedly attacked by supporters of a defeated candidate for the Moresby Northeast electorate on Tuesday afternoon.
Gabriel Sape, 32, from Simeriki, Erave, Southern Highlands, a church leader with the Revival Centres of Papua New Guinea, was attacked at his family home in 8-Mile, Port Moresby.
Sape’s father Henry Sape said at around 2pm the candidate drove into his yard in a grey Toyota 4WD and attempted to bump his son.
“My son took cover but a man jumped out of the vehicle and hit him with a piece of metal,” Henry Sape said.
Witnesses said two other men and a woman were also attacked by the candidate’s supporters.
Monica Malo of Enga sustained a broken left arm while Philip Pinas and Christopher Raru sustained leg and head injuries respectively.
Sape said the motive for the attack was not known but they believed the candidate was angry because they voted for other candidates.
“We voted for Nathan Pok because he has helped us to secure title for our homes,” Sape said.
“I think he (candidate) is upset over that.
The complainants said they had reported the matter to 6-Mile police station yesterday.
National Capital District police operations Chief Supt Andy Bawa was disturbed when he heard about the attack on the settlers.
“I will have to check this out,” he said.
“Nobody is above the law. The law will deal with this candidate if the allegations are true.
Bawa urged candidates to accept defeat and move on in life.
“Whoever the people vote in is their leader and other candidates must accept the outcome of the elections,” he said.