Suspect dead after police raid

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
ONE suspect is dead and another is recovering at the Kavieng General Hospital after they were shot by police during an early morning raid along the Buluminski Highway in New Ireland.
Another three suspects are on the run with police continuing investigations.
Provincial Police Commander Chief Insp Moses Itoro said the two men were part of a gang of five who got into the province from Kimbe, West New Britain.
“The five are alleged to be involved in several robberies in West New Britain and escaped from the province and made their way to New Ireland,” he said.
Chief Insp Itoro said the five men went to Kavieng town last week in a vehicle and kept watch on a supermarket. “When the supermarket made a bank-run, they held up the employee who was heading to the Kavieng Bank South Pacific branch.
“As he was heading into the bank, they went after him and held him up inside the glass door and took the money from him, in the process, breaking the glass,” Chief Insp Itoro said.
A day after the robbery, police conducted an early morning raid at a village a couple of kilometres out of Kavieng town.
Police engaged in a shootout with the five suspects, three escaped and two were injured.
Chief Insp Itoro said one of the suspects who was shot died from the injuries he sustained. “When police retrieved the two suspects, the one that died had on him a firearm and K45,000 in cash, the other is alleged to be an accomplice.
“From the robbery of the supermarket worker, K14,000 was recovered. “The suspect who died has been identified and is from Chimbu,” he said.
Meanwhile, an expatriate was slashed on his arm at the Rubio plantation and received emergency surgery at the Kavieng General Hospital. Chief Insp Itoro is yet to be briefed on the incident.