Cop shot dead, suspects known

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
A POLICEMAN was killed in an early-morning shootout yesterday with criminals who had robbed Chimbu Governor Michael Dua at his Port Moresby home on Saturday and got away with cash and goods worth about K250,000, according to police.
The robbery at Malolo Estate, 8-Mile inlcuded Dua’s car, K50,000 in cash and a pistol with bullets which led police to believe that it was a planned job, National Capital District police commander Supt Gideon Ikumu said.
“The policeman was killed during the shootout with the suspects at 5-Mile Ridge,” he said.
“His body is now at the morgue at the Port Moresby General Hospital.
“It looks that it was a planned job as these suspects had gone to Dua’s house at Malolo Estate at about 10am on Saturday and stole his car, a laptop computer, mobile phone, K50,000 cash and a pistol with 17 rounds of bullets. Important documents and other valuables were in that car which the suspects took when stealing the vehicle.
“The total amount of cash and valuables amounted to about K250,000.”
Supt Ikumu said the suspects had stolen a taxi at Mambu settlement, Erima, and gone to Dua’s house at Malolo Estate.
“They parked alongside Dua’s vehicle and held him up.
“They confiscated the car keys and got into the vehicle and drove off.
“The stolen vehicle was later found at Mambu settlement without the other stolen items.”
Supt Ikumu said police while investigating were tipped off that the suspects were hiding at 5-Mile Ridge settlement and conducted a dawn raid yesterday in an attempt to arrest the suspects. However the suspects were on alert and shot the policeman who was among the investigating team, killing him instantly.
“The suspects who are known then fled. We are now hunting for the suspects. I’m calling on the public to report them to the police as they are armed and dangerous.
“I’m also calling on their relatives not to habour them as they will be charged too for harbouring.”