Five suspects arrested over alleged murder of 8 people

National

By ROSELYN ELLISON
POLICE in East New Britain have arrested five suspects for the alleged murder of eight people travelling on a boat from New Ireland last August.
East New Britain acting police commander Chief Insp Gabriel Bandy said the five were charged with wilful murder and were expected to appear in court next week.
Bandy said police were still looking for another six suspects.
According to police, a boat ferrying six adults and two minors from Konos to Simberi in Namatanai, New Ireland, went missing on Aug 6.
Bandy said the passengers and the operator failed to reach their destination.
He added that their dead bodies were later found floating between Konos and Simberi and suspected it to be a case of ‘sea piracy’.
Bandy said police believed the suspects used a shotgun to kill the boat operator and four other passengers before robbing the other passengers.
He said the other three passengers were left floating on pallets of their boat for two days.
One of the surviving passengers, a small girl, eventually died as a result of dehydration and exposure.