4 hours Ago By Prudence Auvita
TWO-armed robbery suspects are on the run after allegedly holding up guards at the Waigani Committal Court at gun-point and escaped lawful custody on Tuesday. The incident was described by the guards and by-standers as a well-planned jail break that is a first of its kind in Papua New Guinea. The suspects- Berry Karulaka, an adult male from a mixed parentage of Morobe and Gulf, and Timoty Tewasi, 44, from Besibong, Finchhafen, are both charged with armed robbery.
According to police, Karulaka is the main suspect with a criminal record of multiple violent criminal activities in Port Moresby. He was captured by a CID police patrol unit and detained in Bomana prison waiting for his trial. The suspect is also alleged to be responsible for the shooting of the chairman of landowner company- HGDC at the Defense Haus in Downtown Port Moresby and another hold-up at Konedobu that resulted in victims badly injured early this year.
Recalling the incident on Tuesday, guards at the Waigani Committal Court said the suspects were brought from Bomana prison in a CS vehicle by four officers and kept in the holding cells. The guards said a person visited the suspects at the holding cells then walked to the front of the court rooms and waited in the hallway. When the suspects were brought out from the holding cells by the guards, the visitor pulled out a pistol (firearm) and pointed at the two guards while the suspects ran out and towards the car park.
A CIS officer including two other guards who saw the suspects escaping, said they ran towards the main gate attempting to lock the gate, however; two other men in a getaway vehicle parked at the Committal Court car park threw a gun out at the suspect Berry Karulaka who picked up the gun and ran straight towards the guards and the CIS officer aiming to shoot at them and they dispersed. The suspect ran straight out of the main gate followed by the getaway vehicle, a grey sedan bearing the registration BAJ 947. The suspect then jumped into the vehicle and it sped off.
It was further alleged that there was a land cruiser at the Committal Court gate that followed the vehicle but returned saying they were unarmed and so they were scared to follow the escapees. Meanwhile, a Waigani Committal Court magistrate has issued a warrant for both suspects to be apprehended and brought back to court to pursue the matter..
