Trainee nurse accused of treating gang leader

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
POLICE have arrested a trainee nurse who allegedly smuggled medicine to wanted gang leader Tommy Baker and treated him at his secret hideout in Milne Bay.
Acting provincial police commander Insp Andrew Weda said the nurse had been charged with abetting a criminal and was awaiting her court appearance at the Alotau police station cell. Weda said the nurse was arrested at her home in Alotau.
“She is a trainee nurse at the Alotau General Hospital and had allegedly been smuggling medicines from the hospital to take to Baker’s hideout,” he said.
“We have been requesting her to bring Baker out from his hideout and admit him at the hospital to get better treatment. However she did not cooperate with us. So we wrote to the hospital management resulting in her termination.”
Weda said Baker had been seriously injured in a shootout with police in February when his gang burnt down seven homes at the police barracks.
A woman and her seven-year-old child were killed, plus provincial legal adviser Michael Efi who died during the exchange of fire.
Weda said the special police operation involving officers from Port Moresby to look for Baker was continuing despite the cut in funding from police headquarters.
“We are now using our own funds while waiting for funds from Konedobu.”
Weda said all investigations into criminal activities by Baker’s gang in Alotau district since 2013 had been completed and all court files prepared.