Two Tommy Baker-related case suspects freed due to lack of police investigations
 |
| Tommy Baker tops the PNG police list of most wanted men. |
Two Tommy Baker-related case suspects freed due to lack of police investigations
PORT MORESBY: Tommy Maeva Baker tops Papua New Guinea (PNG)’s police list of most wanted criminal.
Baker and his gang of killers and robbers started terrorising the people of Alatou since 2013.
Over the years, Baker is believed to have “commanded” up to 40 followers, and had been on the run since 2013. Twice he was caught but he managed to escape.
So, when police arrested three suspects who aided Tommy’s escape from the Port Moresby General Hospital on Oct 5, Papua New Guineans and the public would have expected the police to step up investigations and give more urgency.
Instead, two of the three suspects have been freed by the courts - because police failed to complete investigations for more than three months!
This surely does not help the image of the police force nor does it boost public confidence in the police to enforce and ensure law and order.
The first suspect was released on July 24, 2019, and the second on Wednesday (Aug 7, 2019).
A third suspect is believed to be still in custody, and would it be a surprise if he or she is also released by the court soon?
Despite all the negative legal developments in the Baker-related cases, the police top brass are still tight-lipped and yet to clarify what had happened to its investigations and if any action had been taken for sloppy investigations.
In this case, keeping silent is surely not golden, nor is it a solution.
PNG Cyber Monitor spotted this report by The National:
Alleged aide in Baker’s escape freed
ANOTHER suspected aide of Papua New Guinea’s most wanted criminal Tommy Maeva Baker was freed by the court yesterday for lack of police investigations.
On July 24, the Waigani committal court had also freed Philip Doop Savulo of charges of aiding Baker to escape from the Port Moresby General Hospital following prior to a series of crimes in Alotau in January.
Magistrate Comas Bidar freed Savulo because police investigations had lapsed the standard three months and that no police file had been served on him since his arrest.
Yesterday, magistrate Ernest Wilmot also freed Anthony Ralewa Tony, 27, after striking out similar charges because police investigations were also not completed within three months.
Defence lawyer Edward Sasingian argued that Tony, from Rigo’s Hula in Central, had been in custody for more than three months and yet police investigations were still not completed.
Tony, with alleged accomplices Heni Moss Mana and Philip Savulo Doops, allegedly aided Baker to escape at the hospital where Baker was receiving medical attention under the custody of Correctional Service officers on Oct 5.
Tony first appeared in court on May 7 and appeared for the third time yesterday without a police file.
Sasingian told Wilmot that Tony was appearing for a third mention and no police files had been served and applied for the court to strike out the charges.
On July 24, the Waigani committal court had also freed Philip Doop Savulo of charges of aiding Baker to escape from the Port Moresby General Hospital following prior to a series of crimes in Alotau in January.
Magistrate Comas Bidar freed Savulo because police investigations had lapsed the standard three months and that no police file had been served on him since his arrest.
Yesterday, magistrate Ernest Wilmot also freed Anthony Ralewa Tony, 27, after striking out similar charges because police investigations were also not completed within three months.
Defence lawyer Edward Sasingian argued that Tony, from Rigo’s Hula in Central, had been in custody for more than three months and yet police investigations were still not completed.
Tony, with alleged accomplices Heni Moss Mana and Philip Savulo Doops, allegedly aided Baker to escape at the hospital where Baker was receiving medical attention under the custody of Correctional Service officers on Oct 5.
Tony first appeared in court on May 7 and appeared for the third time yesterday without a police file.
Sasingian told Wilmot that Tony was appearing for a third mention and no police files had been served and applied for the court to strike out the charges.
Comments
Post a Comment