Tommy Baker shot dead

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
PAPUA New Guinea (PNG)’s most wanted criminal – Tommy Maeva Baker – was shot dead by police in Milne Bay’s Alotau on Thursday night.
A policeman was injured on Friday night in a retaliatory ambush by the remnants of Baker Gang.
The death of Baker brings to a total of 13 members of the inner circle of the Baker gang who had been killed by police last year.
They included Michael “Mekere” Yawi who was shot dead on Aug 17.
Police Commissioner David Manning told The National on Thursday evening that Baker, 35, was shot as he, along with other armed men engaged a police unit at the Viole Bridge, Kwaini settlement, between 10pm and 11pm.
Baker’s eight-year reign of terror ended when he tried to fight his way out from a police team that was on its way to catch him.
Comm Manning said: “I want to confirm that Baker has been shot as he along with several other men engaged a police unit at the Viole Bridge as the team were making their way into Kwaini settlement.”
“The unit were acting on information received on the whereabouts of Baker,” Comm Manning said.
According to information received by The National, Baker had been living around the peripheral of Alotau town for some time because he had been injured and was trying to seek medical attention.
A 10-men team had been making their way into Kwaini when the vehicles they were travelling in was shot at. Locals at Kwaini told The National that they heard several shots exchanged between the Baker gang and police.
When the shooting stopped, the gang fled, Baker’s body was found and taken to the Alotau Hospital morgue under heavy escort at around 11pm.
The National understands that the following night, between 8pm and 9pm, Baker’s gang ambushed the police team at Weoli, which is across the river from the Kwaini settlement.
A permanent two-storey home belonging to a local was burned down by the gang allegedly led by Eugene Takalasi.
Takalasi is believed to have now taken over the gang’s leadership.
A police officer was shot on the foot as they fought their way out in a 30-minute gun battle at Weoli.
The officer has been treated and is now recovering.
The vehicle the police officers were in has several bullet holes along the passenger’s side, with the windows broken.
Baker’s crimes covered Gulf, Central and Milne Bay with at least 10 people, including a policeman, being victims of his gang.
Baker, wanted for murders and armed robberies, also had no fear for police.
He had attacked and killed policemen since 2013.
His life of crime and as a fugitive started on June 25, 2013, when Baker a.k.a Allah, Kobare and Doboro, led a gang to rob workers of a supermarket outside Westpac Bank and fled with K150,000.
He was captured twice but managed to escape.
Baker’s downfall was only a matter of time when he led some 70 gang members to attack Alotau police on April 29, March 17 and 18 last year.
A six-hour gun battle between police and the Baker gang jolted Alotau.
The attack triggered Papua New Guinea’s biggest police manhunt in history for a criminal – a 60-day manhunt – that cost the Government K2 million.
After the 60 days, police continued with the search discreetly that ended the Baker era of crime and terror.