Police confirm Misima Island robbery by armed gang

ACTING Milne Bay police commander George Bayagau has confirmed the robbery of shops on Misima Island by an armed gang.
“This gang is believed to be led by the notorious criminal Tommy Baker and they robbed two shops on Bwagaoia Station on Dec 20,” he said.
“They are now at large with a substantial amount of money and other valuable items including two dinghies that they also robbed.
“Police have been deployed to Misima and are now conducting investigations.”
Bayagau said the gang came from Alotau district on the mainland in three dinghies and held up the shops at about 4.30pm in the Samarai-Murua electorate.
“They looted and completely ransacked the shops,” he said.
“They also ordered the people to join in the looting. The remaining two shops closed down in fear of been looted.
“They also robbed the only fuel depot and took two dinghies and escaped with stolen fuel.”
Bayagau said the provincial executive council had passed a resolution last month for the five MPs to allocate a total of K1 million from their electorate funds for police operations during the festive season.
“Only Governor John Luke Criton and Alotau MP Charles Abel have contributed a total of K400,000 while Kiriwina-Goodenough MP Douglass Tomuriesa, Esa’ala MP Davis Steven and Samarai–Murua MP Isi Henry Leonard have yet to make a contribution,” he said.
An official said that the Samarai-Murua district development authority had already allocated K50,000 for police to hunt down the criminals.