Robert@PNG

The following story appeared in Tuesday's edition of The National newspaper (8/5/07). Jeffery, who was shot dead by Lae Police this week was a friend of Eli's from West Taraka. I had met Jeffery on a number of occasions when wandering the streets of East and West Taraka. I was aware of his criminal background nevertheless, I found Jeffery to be a courteous and pleasant man. The last time we both met Jeffery was in Lae about 5 weeks ago, it was a Sunday afternoon and we had gone into West Taraka with Tom, an american lecturer from UNITECH, to watch a local Rugby match. Jeffery came over and introduced himself to Tom and during our conversation a fight broke out not far away; Jeffery looked after us. Anyway Jeffery… live by the gun - die by the gun. Consider yourself lucky to have died - a life without legs would not have been very pleasant existence. Happy to have met you… RIP.

Wanted criminal shot
dead

By PETER MIVA

A WANTED criminal and escapee, who has been
on the run since 2005, was shot dead by police in Lae last Friday at
East Taraka after he resisted arrest and tried to flee from policemen
who had gone to arrest him.
Acting metropolitan commander Supt Leo Lamei said yesterday that the
deceased, identified as Jeffery Ku, 32, from Mumi village, Tambul in the
Western Highlands province, had been serving life imprisonment in Buimo
for double murder in Lae city and was transferred to Bomana jail in Port
Moresby.
But he later escaped in a mass jail breakout in 2005 with other
prisoners.
Supt Lamei said the prisoner, also known as ‘Amos Anzu’, had been on the
run and came back to Lae, where police had been looking for him until
last Friday.
He said police moved into East Taraka at 8.30am after receiving
intelligence reports that the prisoner was in the area.
Supt Lamei said when police approached the suspect, he did not surrender
but fled, when police shot him on both legs to stop him from escaping.
He said the prisoner was taken to the Angau Memorial General Hospital
for treatment but died from the wounds sustained.
Supt Lamei said the prisoner had been wanted by police for a string of
serious crimes in the East and West Taraka areas and in the city as
well.
He claimed the prisoner was involved in the armed robberies of Formosa
Trading in Eriku, Bumayong Trading, and the K19,000 payroll of Lorma
Trading.
Supt Lamei said the prisoner was also involved in the burning down of a
house belonging to an East New Britain family at East Taraka.
He said prior to the prisoner’s escape from Bomana in 2005, he escaped
from Buimo in Lae in 2000 after being sentenced for life in 1997 and was
recaptured in Wewak in 2004 and was brought back to Buimo but was later
transferred to Bomana.
Supt Lamei said a coroner’s report would be furnished to the courts.