Cops probe shooting, fire drama in Alotau on Dec 6
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| Rodha ... Who shot her? Cops or Tommy Baker Gang of killers and robbers? |
Cops probe shooting, fire drama in Alotau on Dec 6
PORT MORESBY: Police are starting to investigate what really happened in Alotau on Dec 6 when an 86-year-old woman was shot dead in a police-Tommy Baker Gang shooting and fire incident.
Southern commander Asst Comm John Maru is leading the proble and he will be in Milne Bay any time this week to interview witnesses.
He has also announced that with his findings, he will decide whether a Police Internal Affairs team should investigate the death of Rodha Dick, whose body is still lying in the Alotau Hospital after seven months.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below the latest development of the case as reported by The National:
Scarred for life
Kitava compound villagers took pictures of their burning houses after the policemen left the scene on Dec 6.
Inset: Roy Digeida, 11, who fled from his burning house in the nick of time has to live with burn scars for the rest of his life.
Inset: Roy Digeida, 11, who fled from his burning house in the nick of time has to live with burn scars for the rest of his life.
Maru leads Alotau investigation
By CLIFFORD FAIPARIKPOLICE are launching a probe on the shooting and fire incident in Alotau on Dec 6 with Southern commander Asst Comm John Maru taking the lead.
“I will personally go to Milne Bay, any time this week, to talk with relatives of the victim (Rodha Dick) who was allegedly killed by policemen,” he told The National yesterday.
Rodha, an 86-year-old grandmother, was shot dead when police were allegedly engaged in a shootout with Tommy Maeva Baker’s gang of killers and robbers.
However, Rodha’s family members and villagers have disputed that there was a shootout and that Rodha was caught in a crossfire.
Maru said he would also be talking to policemen and officers, and medical officers in Alotau to get technical information.
“Based on what I establish from my findings (investigation), I will decide whether a Police Internal Affairs team should investigate the killing (of Rodha),” he added.
“My trip (to Alotau) is to find answers to what (Rodha’s) relatives have complained and reported by The National. I will have to go and find out if the first post-mortem had been carried out.
“And if it was carried out, I want to know why the relatives do not agree with that report. And whether they want another post-mortem done with a doctor from outside the province.
“I also will have to find out why the body is still lying in the mortuary for the last seven months,” he added.
Maru said Rodha’s relatives claimed that there was a first post mortem.
“But then there is no coroner’s report. Because with the post mortem report, then the coroner can make a decision whether it was a suspicious death or not. If it was a suspicious death, then there will be an investigation to be conducted by the Internal Affairs.
“If the coroner finds that the death was not suspicious, then the relatives can claim Rodha’s remains,” he added.
Maru said he would also be talking to other villagers who were witnesses at the scene during the shooting and fire.
“I will personally go to Milne Bay, any time this week, to talk with relatives of the victim (Rodha Dick) who was allegedly killed by policemen,” he told The National yesterday.
Rodha, an 86-year-old grandmother, was shot dead when police were allegedly engaged in a shootout with Tommy Maeva Baker’s gang of killers and robbers.
However, Rodha’s family members and villagers have disputed that there was a shootout and that Rodha was caught in a crossfire.
Maru said he would also be talking to policemen and officers, and medical officers in Alotau to get technical information.
“Based on what I establish from my findings (investigation), I will decide whether a Police Internal Affairs team should investigate the killing (of Rodha),” he added.
“My trip (to Alotau) is to find answers to what (Rodha’s) relatives have complained and reported by The National. I will have to go and find out if the first post-mortem had been carried out.
“And if it was carried out, I want to know why the relatives do not agree with that report. And whether they want another post-mortem done with a doctor from outside the province.
“I also will have to find out why the body is still lying in the mortuary for the last seven months,” he added.
Maru said Rodha’s relatives claimed that there was a first post mortem.
“But then there is no coroner’s report. Because with the post mortem report, then the coroner can make a decision whether it was a suspicious death or not. If it was a suspicious death, then there will be an investigation to be conducted by the Internal Affairs.
“If the coroner finds that the death was not suspicious, then the relatives can claim Rodha’s remains,” he added.
Maru said he would also be talking to other villagers who were witnesses at the scene during the shooting and fire.
Villagers speak up on police-Baker shooting, fire incident on Dec 6
By SYLVESTER WEMURUMORE frightening and horrifying stories are emerging from the alleged shootout between the police and Tommy Maeva Baker’s gang of killers and robbers in Alatou on Dec 6.
Today, the parents of 11-year-old Roy Digeida recalled how their son fled in the nick of time to cheat a fiery death after policemen allegedly set fire to his house and 17 others.
Though thankful to be alive, Roy has to live with burn scars in his arms and body for the rest of his life. And he is still undergoing medical treatment for the burns.
Roy’s mother, Kelesta Digeida, 30, told The National: “Roy was frightened by the behaviour of the policemen, so he ran into our house. But the policemen (allegedly) torched our house.
“I was then in the nearby river, where I was doing my laundry, when a woman rushed up to tell me that Roy was crying and screaming in the house.
“I then rushed back home and found Roy sprawled on the ground outside our burning house. He had, apparently, managed to break through the wall to flee.”
“And when I lifted him, he told me not to touch him as he was in pain. The house was already engulfed in flames.”
Kelesta said she was lost for words but she rushed Roy to the hospital where doctors told me that I was lucky to bring him in for treatment quickly.
“The doctors said any delay could have seriously and permanently damaged his nerves,” she said, adding that Roy was still undergoing treatment for his injuries.
“I will be sending him to hospital for surgery and to check if his nerves had recovered from the burns,” Keleste said.
Today, the parents of 11-year-old Roy Digeida recalled how their son fled in the nick of time to cheat a fiery death after policemen allegedly set fire to his house and 17 others.
Though thankful to be alive, Roy has to live with burn scars in his arms and body for the rest of his life. And he is still undergoing medical treatment for the burns.
Roy’s mother, Kelesta Digeida, 30, told The National: “Roy was frightened by the behaviour of the policemen, so he ran into our house. But the policemen (allegedly) torched our house.
“I was then in the nearby river, where I was doing my laundry, when a woman rushed up to tell me that Roy was crying and screaming in the house.
“I then rushed back home and found Roy sprawled on the ground outside our burning house. He had, apparently, managed to break through the wall to flee.”
“And when I lifted him, he told me not to touch him as he was in pain. The house was already engulfed in flames.”
Kelesta said she was lost for words but she rushed Roy to the hospital where doctors told me that I was lucky to bring him in for treatment quickly.
“The doctors said any delay could have seriously and permanently damaged his nerves,” she said, adding that Roy was still undergoing treatment for his injuries.
“I will be sending him to hospital for surgery and to check if his nerves had recovered from the burns,” Keleste said.
Another Kitava compound villager, Lewis Jimmy (pic), 31, said he was playing volleyball on the field when he heard gun shots.
“So, I ran to see to see what was happening.
“Police had gathered villagers and forced them to sit on the field. Seeing that, I walked away but a policeman stopped me outside my house.
“He asked if I had (fire) matches. I said yes and he ordered me to give him the matches. He then set fire to my house and passed the matches to his colleagues who started torching other houses in the compound,” he added.
He said the policemen drove into the compound in five vehicles and there were more than 10 fully armed policemen with firearms.
Jimmy said: “They pointed their guns at me and other villagers and told us not to watch or look at them burning the houses. The policemen left after the houses were engulfed in flames.
“We were all too scared to report the incident to the police.”
“So, I ran to see to see what was happening.
“Police had gathered villagers and forced them to sit on the field. Seeing that, I walked away but a policeman stopped me outside my house.
“He asked if I had (fire) matches. I said yes and he ordered me to give him the matches. He then set fire to my house and passed the matches to his colleagues who started torching other houses in the compound,” he added.
He said the policemen drove into the compound in five vehicles and there were more than 10 fully armed policemen with firearms.
Jimmy said: “They pointed their guns at me and other villagers and told us not to watch or look at them burning the houses. The policemen left after the houses were engulfed in flames.
“We were all too scared to report the incident to the police.”
Petueli Sinody (pic), 38, said he was in his house which was near the compound’s driveway when he saw the police vehicles moving in.
“The criminals that the police were hunting did not come into the compound.
“They used a route that bypassed our compound to get to their hideout on hill. They were already gone when the policemen arrived.”
“The criminals that the police were hunting did not come into the compound.
“They used a route that bypassed our compound to get to their hideout on hill. They were already gone when the policemen arrived.”
Chronology of The National’s exclusive news reports that featured Kitava compound residents who have mustered courage to speak up on their terrifying experience with the police on Dec 6 last year:
- NAPOLEON Saevaru told The National on July 18 that the body of his mother, Rodha Dick, 86, was still lying in the mortuary after she was allegedly shot dead by the police on Dec 6. He said family members were not satisfied with the first post-mortem that was conducted on Dec 18 because the bullet that hit her was not removed. So, the family requested a second autopsy to identify whether the bullet belonged to the police or the criminals. The Alatou district court magistrate signed and approved the second autopsy to be conducted on April 3, but the family is still waiting to claim Rodha’s body for funeral rites and burial;
- SOUTHERN command assistance commander Supt John Maru told The National on July 21 that he was not aware of the progress made on the investigation into the death of Rodha, and that he had not received any report from investigators in Alotau;
- POLICE Minister Bryan Kramer told The National on July 23 that he wanted Acting Police Comm Francis Tokura to respond and clarify the progress of the investigation into Rodha’s death;
- ANOTHER three witnesses, including a woman who was hit by a pellet but survived, told The National of the terrifying encounter with the policemen who were hunting for the Tommy Baker gang of killers and robbers. Tani Lucas, 28, related how she was hit by the pellet from shots fired by the police. She is also having difficulty getting the medical report that would confirm that she was shot. Rodha’s grandson Eslick Napoleon Jnr Saevaru, 27, and villager David Bate 34, both lamented how the policemen arrived firing in all directions and later torched their houses before leaving.
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