Guards beat street vendor

 By PISAI GUMAR

LAE street vendor’s failure to adhere to city authority regulations has resulted in a vendor being wounded and admitted to Angau Memorial Hospital’s intensive care unit.

MMSS managing director Petrus Patrick said this was the spill-over of an incident incited by drunken vendors on Wednesday at noon.

They threatened and harassed a family that was waiting for a PMV bus at the Highlands Highway bus stop at Eriku and made off with K200 cash, bank card and a mobile phone.

The family alerted MMSS guards who caught up with the vendors and demanded that they return the items and cash. 

However, the offenders returned the phone and bank card and not the cash. 

After several minutes, the crowd mobilised and attacked the guards, injuring two of them.

The next morning, MMSS guards went to Eriku and sighted a vendor illegally selling betelnut.

He ignored instructions to return to a market where he lived and ran for cover at a church ground (AOG) opposite bus stop.

He is now in a critical condition at the Angau Memorial Hospital after the guards beat him.

“We are not here to harass people but to bring back the lost confidence, pride and respect in public places. We want to ensure Lae city is free from pick pockets, street vendors and littering so the general public can walk around freely without fear and harassment.

“MMSS is recognised by Morobe provincial government and the city authority and is working closely with Lae police and city council policing unit. It is here to stay for the good of every citizen and investors residing in Lae,” Patrick said.