‘Tommy Baker’ gang members arrested

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
EIGHT suspects allegedly involved in the killing of two police officers and a number of violent armed robberies in Milne Bay since 2013 have been arrested in Port Moresby, Central police commander Chief Superintendent Sibron Papoto says.
The suspects from the notorious Tommy Baker gang were also alleged to be involved in the killing of a security guard and a female staff of Alotau Enterprise.
“Police arrested these members, including their gang leader, last week at Taurama Beach in Port Moresby,” Papoto said.
“They were escaping from police in Milne Bay after (allegedly) robbing a rural Bank South Pacific branch at Hagita on June 19.
“Police, on a tipoff, hid at Tuna Bay and arrested them when they were landing on the beach.
“They have been charged with armed robbery and are now detained at the Bomana Prison. A member of the gang William Peter Nimo was killed in Lae on May 14 during a failed robbery attempt.”
Meanwhile, Milne Bay commander, Inspector George Bayagau claimed that another 16 members of the Baker gang were suspected of robbing the Tawali Resort last Thursday. “We have identified three of them and doing investigations. Their whereabouts are still unknown,” Bayagau said.
He said the suspects escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash from the resort’s safe at around 7pm when guests were having dinner. The men ordered guests and staff to go to the lobby where they ordered to see the resort manager who had no choice but to hand over the keys to the safe box.
Bayagau claimed the gang had killed probation constable David Opa, from Imbonggu district on July 2013, and Const Samuel Pisa, from Mendi district, on July 30, 2016.