Remandee on the loose

By BOURA GORUKILA
A WARRANT of arrest has been issued for a robbery suspect who dashed for freedom from the Waigani Committal Court last Thursday.
Magistrate Tracy Ganaii issued the warrant yesterday after police prosecutor Snr Const Peter Samghy told the court that Joel Taha Ruana escaped from the court house when he was brought from custody.
Ruana is one of the accused in the K1 million Tropic Air robbery case in 2016. “Ruana and 20 other remandees were brought to court that day,” Snr Const Samghy told the court about his escape last week.
“He escaped, jumped down from the police van while others were walking into the court holding cells.
He ran to the main gate where a security guard was, tried to stab him with a sharp fork.
“He then ran to a getaway vehicle parked at the National Library car park.”
Magistrate Ganaii fixed Oct 29 for the warrant of arrest to be reviewed. Ruana, 34, from Medene village in Rigo, Central, was charged with armed robbery with two co-accused currently be-fore the National Court.
Ruana was arrested at Gorudobu village, Koiari, on Dec 31, 2016 on a warrant of arrest.
It was alleged that on Nov 3, 2016, at between 7am and 8am Ruana and his accomplices robbed RH accounts staff and Tropic Air staff at the Tropic Air Terminal at Jackson International Airport.
Police alleged that they got away with K1.195 million in cash and property belonging to the RH Group of companies.
Police alleged that they escaped on a white Ford Ranger.
They then left the vehicle at Gordon, next to Madang Governor Peter Yama’s residence, and transferred to two awaiting getaway Toyota Land Cruiser.
They went to Vadavada settlement and shared the money.
Ruana was allegedly given a share of K110,000.
Police alleged that he shared his cut with other accomplices.