Police shoot most-wanted criminal

A WANTED criminal, who had been on the run from authorities for a long time, was killed by Lae police in a shootout on Monday.
Lae Met Supt Anthony Wagambie Jr, pictured, said Amon Ben was shot at a section of the Bumbu River after his gang had robbed a couple.
Wagambie said Ben was wanted by police for the rape and killing of a woman from Asaro, Eastern Highlands, earlier this year at the Bumbu River.
Ben had also escaped from police custody early this year after he was arrested in relation to a string of robberies in the city.
“The deceased was with three other gang members, armed and drinking beside the Bumbu River,” Wagambie said.
“(On Monday) at around 6pm, police received information through the toll-free number that there was a group of men drinking along the river bank, armed and threatening people trying to cross over to the Butibam side. While police were on their way, the gang held up a couple, assaulted them and robbed them of their belongings.”
Wagambie said the gang had held up another couple and robbed them. He said the man resisted and was stabbed in the neck, abdomen and thigh.
Wagambie said during the encounter Ben, who was armed with a knife and a homemade gun, was shot by police.