Police arrest third suspect

 By FREDRICK JEJERI
POLICE have arrested a third suspect in connection with the killing of Dr Alphonse Rongap in Lae last week.
Police Metropolitan Superintendent  Anthony Wagambie said the man from Pindiue in Morobe lived at Malahang. Police caught him at the Tari block in Awagasi market, Kamkumung.
“The suspect was identified by witnesses as one of the gang that allegedly attacked late Dr Rongap,” he said.
“The suspect fled from his residence. Informants alerted police who surrounded his hideout and apprehended him. He is alleged to have a past criminal record.”
Wagambie said the suspect escaped from police custody when he was brought out from Buimo prison to have his warrant renewed.
He was remanded at that time for armed robbery and was awaiting his trial.
“I am appealing to community members to keep on assisting police to give information on other suspects who are at large,” Wagambie Jnr said.
The first suspect was apprehended on Saturday night after the incident.
The second suspect surrendered himself to police on Tuesday.
Police are still looking for the other suspects involved in the killing.
Meanwhile, members of a community in Lae raised K11,667 for the mourning house of late Dr Rongap.
Spokesman Dominic Kaluwa said the people contributed the money to assist the mourning house.
“The contribution is not part of compensation to the relatives of the late Dr Rongap,” he said.
“We have formed a working committee in this mourning time to assist where possible. The contributions were from the community at Ass Mambu.
“The contributors were saddened by the senseless killing. They would support the police in their investigation.
“The suspects were not from the Ass Mambu community but because the incident took place in the area, it has cast a bad image on them.”