Post Courier Online 21 July 2008:
Cops got them
FOUR policemen, a Gerehu mobster, William Kapis Nanua the alleged brain behind the Kerema and Madang robberies and more than 15 of their accomplices, were caught days apart since Friday last week, thanks to the newly formed major organised crime intelligence team (MOCIT).
Nanua’s capture which was the highlight of months of investigative efforts by detectives hopefully will lead to the arrest of others who have aided and abetted him on his run. NUMEROUS media speculation that Nanua was in several locations was false. He had been in Port Moresby for a week already when he was ambushed by the Special Services Division (SSD) mobile squad early Friday morning.
Three vehicles (under surveillance), a Ford Ranger, a white Toyota Landcruiser (10-seater) and a white Hiace bus, all with tinted windscreens with Nanua and his accomplices were heading towards Aroma when the awaiting SSD men blocked them off at Gomore village from the front and rear giving them no escape route.
Those who tried to make a dash were quickly captured and severely dealt with.
The news of their capture spread like wildfire and the Boroko police station immediately turned into a fort with security stepped up, all complaints given no special attention, and the backgate locked.
Nanua has been wanted for questioning over a series of major crimes such as the Madang and Kerema BSP robberies totalling almost K3 million, the Metal Refinery robbery where a gold bar was taken, a plane hijacking and the murder of a policeman in Kimbe some years back.
He has been charged for escaping from lawful custody. He escaped some years back under the pretext of receiving medical attention while in lawful custody.
The four policemen (one an ex-policeman), all from East Sepik and married with children, were found with high powered AR 15 guns and two magazines.
One of them is an SSD member who was in police uniform and carrying the magazines in a travelling bag.
Metropolitan Superintendent Fred Yakasa said the policemen could be charged for being in the company of known criminals with their connection to be further investigated. The Gerehu mobster, a big fish in that area, Gary Gawi, was also captured on Friday at Erima. He is allegedly the mastermind in the plane hijacking last November and is believed to be connected to a series of crimes committed by Nanua.
Remandees at Boroko were immediately taken to Bomana to make space for the new “recruits”.
Further interrogation by police resulted in a total of K127,000 being returned along with two magnum pistols, several bullets, body vests, two pairs of field trousers with caps and a field shirt with an officer’s insignia.
A senior detective, who did not want to be named, said the officer (known) had earlier during the day visited him with a signed confession denying any part in the whole scheme.
Mr Yakasa in commending his men for an excellent job, said since the inception of MOCIT two months ago, results had been achieved on the scarce resources they had and the K2.96 million recently received for NCD would boost their work in terms of logistics and fuel.
“We should be able to totally crack down on this criminal network as the network seems to involve high profile people,” he said.
Great to hear but hope they do not escape as is often the case in PNG.
Posted by: Peter Donelly | July 24, 2008 at 06:01 PM