By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
An Indonesian arrested by Police for armed robbery in Solomon Island was mistaken to be a Papua New Guinean, Bougainville Police Service Deputy Commissioner Francis Tokura says.
“Chris Yambeyabbi from Genyem village, Niboran District, West Papua was mistaken to be a Papua New Guinean when Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) officers arrested him in Honiara last week for robbing another foreigner off S$11,000 (K46970 worth of equipment. And so RSIPF released an official statement that a Papua New Guinean was arrested for entering the newly build Pacific Games stadium with another suspect from Solomon Island and committed the robbery”.
Mr Tokura also said that the Indonesian was suspected to be an illegal immigrant. “He came to Solomon Island in 2018 without any proper travel documents. He didn’t have any passport with him and he has been living in Solomon Islands illegally for five years. His entry point is still unknown. He has been involved in three separate related crimes since he came here to Solomon Island. He is currently married to a local Solomon Island woman and resides at Burns creek settlement in Honiara.
Mr Tokura said that the Indonesian and the Solomon Islander threatened a foreign employee who was there at the time with a homemade pistol and escaped with valuable items worth $11,000. “Both suspects have been arrested and are currently remanded at the Correctional Service of Solomon Islands (CSSI).”
Investigation into the alleged arm robbery and his immigration status is continuing.
