Tommy Baker’s ‘Dirty Dozen’ nabbed

 News that matter in Papua New Guinea

 

Tommy Baker’s ‘Dirty Dozen’ nabbed

PORT MORESBY: Police have arrested and charged 12 Tommy Baker gang members for burning down a police barrack in Alotau on April 29.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) Polioce Comm David Manning said the 12 were now being held in Giligili Prison after their special committal court sitting yesterday (May 4, 2021).

The “Dirty Dozen’ gang members of PNG’s most notorious wanted fugitive Tommy Maeva Baker will be recalled to court on June 9.

Meanwhile, police and Defence Force soldiers continue their manhunt for some 70 other genag members who are on the run after attcking and burning down the police barracks in Milne Bay’s Alotau on April 29, 2021.

Details of the breaking news were published by The National:

 

12 charged in Alotau

May 5, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
TWELVE gang members of notorious criminal Tommy Maeva Baker were yesterday charged with one count of arson each for burning down a police barracks in Alotau, says Police Commissioner David Manning.
Comm Manning told The National that the 12 were detained at Giligili Prison after their special committal court sitting yesterday. Their case will be recalled on June 9.
The 12 men were arrested in a dawn raid by members of the Port Moresby-based special investigation taskforce assisting the Alotau police, at the Doa Compound yesterday.
Police arrested another four yesterday afternoon. They are undergoing interrogation as hunt continues for Baker.
They are expected to be charged today.
“The result speaks for itself and it is the commitment of the investigators to ensure those who caused damage to the properties and burned the Water Police Barracks are dealt with,” Comm Manning said.
“I would like to thank the people of Alotau for allowing police investigations to prevail and for those who are assisting police with the investigations.
“I am grateful for you all in taking the initiative to assist the investigators. It is a hard task but with your assistance, justice will prevail.”
Last Friday, Baker’s gang burned down the Alotau Water Police Barracks and went on a rampage in town looting shops.
Police said goods valued at K85,000, three semi-automatic shotguns and an undisclosed amount of money were stolen from shops and businesses during the looting.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Crimes, Hodges Ette confirmed the arrests by the National Capital District-based personnel who flew to Alotau last Friday, saying “the constabulary is happy with the outcome”.
“The arrest of the first 12 is a demonstration of collaboration with people on the ground, and our commitment and willingness to work despite the difficult circumstances we are faced with,” ACP Ette said. “We need support by the local political and regional leadership, they must demonstrate to work with police.
“Safety issue on the ground is theirs and we can only implement what is needed to be implemented in terms of policing services to the people.”
Milne Bay police commander Supt Peter Barkie said Senior Magistrate Wialo Sakatao presided over the special court sitting.
“The group was charged with arson and appeared before the Alotau committal court and are remanded at Giligili CIS,” Supt Barkie said.
“This is good work from the investigators but also I want to thank the general public for their initiative to come forward with information into the whereabouts of the suspects.
“We continue to work to ensure the threat to the province has subsided.” A senior prison officer at Giligili CIS confirmed that the 12 men were being held with security on high alert after receiving threats.

Town terrorised for 8 years: MP

May 5, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
PAPUA New Guinea’s most notorious and wanted criminal Tommy Maeva Baker and his gang have terrorised Alotau town since 2012 and must be stopped at all costs, Alotau MP Charles Abel says.
“Our town has been under siege for eight years despite all efforts to bring back normalcy, peace and harmony by promoting a law-abiding society,” he said.
“Yet, we have been attacked and a police barracks was burned down on April 29. (Another barracks was also destroyed in 2019).
“Businesses have been ransacked, vehicles stolen and town residents traumatised.
“And Baker has been captured but escaped three times from Gililigi Prison in Milne Bay and Bomana Prison in Port Moresby.
“So how can I provide infrastructure like road and, communications, education scholarship, agriculture support, visit villages and settlements, support law and order when criminals cannot be captured, prosecuted and jailed?
“Or if they are captured, they can escape easily. What can we do?”
Abel brushed aside reports that the Baker gang was able to continue terrorising the town because of local political differences.
“Forget all the politics and blaming each other,” he said.
“The problem is we have an organised gang that is determined to get away with breaking the law.
“Simple. It does not matter what our grievances are, we cannot steal, rape, burn and kill (three policemen, a provincial legal officer, one security guard, and an Alotau enterprise staff member).
“And I am the most accessible and understanding leader you can find.
“I work seven days a week trying to help everyone from villages to settlements.
“There is no excuse in the world to destroy our town like this.”
Abel said during April 29 gun battle with police, high-powered weapons were used and more than 100 youths were involved.
“It was a highly organised attack once again (just like the March 18 guns battle and the February 2019 burning down of Misima barracks).
“And I have called for a state of emergency because this was not a minor robbery, or law and order incident.
“This was an attack on all of us and the State of PNG.
“Police Commissioner David Manning, who is also the Covid-19 National Pandemic Response Controller, has responded to the attack by sending 30 policemen and an army contingent is also being assembled for duty in Alotau.
“And I am not the Governor. I am only one of the five MPs from Milne Bay.
“But as the Alotau MP, I say that it cannot be business as usual.
“Some tough decisions have to be made.
“None of us want to have unnecessary forces in the province but we have no choice.
“I have no command over the police or army but I will do my best with the provincial law and order committee to work with the Commissioner and provincial commander Supt Peter Barkie to try and ensure common sense prevails.
“Let us cooperate and support the police so that they can do their job and return to their homes and families as soon as possible and we can be also with our normal, peaceful selves.”

LLG leader calls for forum

May 5, 2021The NationalNational

A PUBLIC forum is needed for politicians and public to address the escalating criminal activities in Milne Bay, Murua local level government president Stalin Kitaega says.
“We need to have a forum in Alotau town for everyone, including Governor John Luke Crittin, Alotau MP Charles Abel, Esa’ala MP Davis Steven, Kiriwina-Goodenough MP Douglas Tomuriesa and Samarai-Murua MP Isi Henry Leonard to tell the truth behind the gun battles between the youths and the police,” he said.
Kitaega said the people needed to know the cause of the violence.
“We need to know if the youths are frustrated over some commitments made by politicians.
“We also need to know why the public are not cooperating with the police to provide information to apprehend suspects.
“Because such criminal incidents are not normal in Milne Bay.”
Kitaega said this yesterday after wanted criminal Tommy Maeva Baker and his gang engaged in a shootout with police in Alotau which resulted in the burning down of the IPI police barracks, displacing 13 families.