Suspected bank robber caught

By ZACHERY PER
GOROKA police last Friday arrested the prime suspect wanted for a bank robbery in which K600,000 was taken in 2018.
The Goroka police intelligence unit picked up the suspect in a village in Chimbu.
Eastern Highlands police commander Supt David Seine Jr yesterday confirmed the rearrest of Blacky Kasino, 55, at Konoma village in Sinasina-Yongumugl, Chimbu.
Supt Seine said Kasino led a group of armed men into the Bank of South Pacific (BSP) branch in Goroka on Jan 18, 2018, and held up employees who were depositing over K600,000 belonging to a supermarket in Goroka.
He said quick police intervention resulted in the arrest of the suspects, including Kasino.
Kasino was remanded at Bihute jail until he escaped during a mass jail breakout in June 2018.
“Goroka police intelligence unit were closely monitoring the area for the last three to four months and eventually apprehended him (Kasino) at his village last Friday,” Supt Seine said.
He said the suspect was also charged with escaping from lawful custody and detained at the Goroka Police Station cell.
“The suspect will appear before the court to answer the charge of unlawful escape and will be remanded at Bihute jail to face earlier charges of armed robbery of K600,000 and other related charges,” Supt Seine said.
He said Kasino had been on the run for two years (June 18, 2018 to June 19, 2020) before he was located and caught. “We have many outstanding cases like the K600,000 bank robbery that we were working on to make arrests but due to the Covid-19 lock-down and state of emergency, they were shelved,” he said.
“Since the state of emergency was lifted, we are now re-visiting the cases and will be tracing suspects to apprehend, charge and lock them up.”