Four Kagamuga men charged with murder, rape

 By JAMES APA GUMUNO

FOUR men have been arrested and charged with the wilful murder of an Australian man and the gang-rape of a Filipino woman in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands.

The four were among 10 men who allegedly broke into Banz Kofi at Kagamuga on March 15, shot dead the man and raped the woman.

The deceased was identified as Purdy Robert Peter, aged 65, of Melbourne, Australia.

Provincial police commander Supt Martin Lakari said yesterday that two men were picked up by police on April 22 while another two were arrested last Saturday while travelling on a vehicle to Kindeng in Jiwaka.

Lakari said that they were arrested and charged with wilful murder and rape.

He identified the suspects as Kabau Laibu, Sitili Kero, Monpi Papea and Batas Kereba, all from Kagamuga.

He said Kero and Laibu appeared before the Mt Hagen District Court for mention last week, were refused bail and were remanded in custody.

He said Kereba and Papea would appear in court today for mention on the same charges.

Lakari appealed to the people to cooperate with the police investigation team to arrest the six suspects still at large.

“These people destroy the good name of the province and country at the international level and we must work together and put them behind bars,” he said.