Phone saves police

By PHOEBE GWANGILO

A MOBILE phone and a power bank in the shirt pocket of a police officer saved his life yesterday — stopping a bullet fired by a group of robbery suspects.
Constable Anthony Kendang told The National how he fell unconscious when the bullet hit him on the chest after he and other officers tried to stop the vehicle the thugs were making their getaway in.

Kendang said they tried to block the road knowing that the suspects were heading for Hanuabada.

“I was standing next to our (police) vehicle but I was not given full description of the vehicle (used by the thieves),” he said.
“So I hesitated from shooting (when the vehicle approached) thinking it may not be them. They shot me on the chest and I fell unconscious.”
National Capital District Metropolitan Superintendent Benjamin Turi said the bullet could have gone through Kendang’s chest if not for the mobile phone and powerbank he had in his shirt pocket.
At around 9am, police were alerted about a robbery at the Crown Plaza in down town.
Kendang was among officers assigned to give chase.
Turi said the thugs fired at Kendang as the police officers tried to block the road.
“Luckily he had the mobile phone (and powerbank) in his shirt pocket. It saved his life, otherwise the bullet would have gone through his lungs,” Turi said.
He said two officers from a security company in Port Moresby were also shot. They are admitted in hospital. He said the thugs later abandoned the vehicle at Hanuabada village and fled with their loot.
Police however managed to arrest the man who shot Kendang.
“He was chased by police at Hanuabada village and was caught. Before he surrendered, he tried to use a kid as a shield. Eventually he surrendered,” Turi said.
Turi said police knew the man because he had been arrested before for various crimes.
Later yesterday, police arrested another four at Gerehu Stage 6.
Police have not determined the amount of cash stolen.
Meanwhile, Turi said murder, rape and land-grabbing issues were on the rise in Port Moresby.
“Last night (Sunday) a Samarai guy was killed at 5-Mile. We have a number of deaths in a week. Sexual penetration is on the rise too and land-grabbing issues,” he said.