Police crash pirates’ party

The National Main Stories

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
POLICE exchanged gunfire with suspected pirates when they raided a victory party on Fergusson Island in Milne Bay, police commander Supt Peter Barkie says.
They arrested a murder escapee who had been on the run since 2016 when he escaped from the Giligili prison in Alotau.
“The suspects were having a party at Mataita village on Friday to celebrate their feat for allegedly robbing cash and other valuables from passengers on dinghies travelling by sea between Alotau and outer islands,” he said.
“They robbed dinghies and outboards during their feat as well.
“They didn’t know that police had been tipped off about their location and were heading there.
“Upon reaching Mataita, police opened fire at the suspects; the suspects retaliated and exchanged gunfire resulting in some suspects sustaining injuries.
“They recovered three dinghies and four outboard motor engines at the suspects’ camp.
“Police leant of the suspects’ location after a victim reported them to officers at Bolubolu station on Goodenough Island.
“The police went to Mataita and confronted these suspects.”
Supt Barkie said they arrested a very dangerous and notorious murderer and prison escapee on Saturday evening along East Cape Highway.
“This person is the leader of the gang that was responsible for the spate of armed robberies along East Cape and North-Coast Highway since he escaped from Giligili prison in 2016. He is wanted for piracy. He is now in police custody and will be processed accordingly,” he said.
Supt Barkie said police mistakenly stumbled into that escapee during a routine patrol along the East Cape road.
“That escapee was among a group of youths smoking drug and drinking homebrew.
“He attempted to escape when police was approaching them (but) police chased him and apprehended him. He was armed with a firearm and physically fought with the three police officers in a fight that lasted about 10 minutes; the policemen overpowered him and brought him to the police station.
Supt Barkie said he would be charged with additional charges apart from escaping from prison.

6 comments

  • Well done to the Police. Its times like this that the more highly sophisticated training and equipments should be given to our Police to combat the change in tactics and environment in law and order.

  • Congratulations, cases like this impresses us, there are some hard working honest officers out there.

  • This is a great job by the police over there. Majority of the policemen and women are serving their country well. I notice alot of efficient police officers back in my province (EHP) too.

  • Well done, Alotau Police. Supt Barkie is making inroads into the heart of sea piracy in Milne Bay, the illegal activity that has been an uncontrolled plague for all the island and coastal travellers for a long time.

  • This didn’t happen at Mataita, my village. The police were called in to stop a fight in the village. From reliable sources, they were tipped off about the gang on West Fergusson which they attended to and ended up with this scenario.

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