By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
A LNG land owner told the Court that he kidnapped an expatriate at a remote oil field in Hela because Government failed to pay him royalties for 20 years. .
Donald Tamu told Magistrate Paul Puri Nii at the Waigani District Court in Port Moresby on Wednesday (30/11/22) that he was involved in kidnapping an Australian and three Papua New Guineans who were staff of Santoos. “The Government and the company didn’t pay my Incorporate Land Group mobilization funds of K5million. I have been travelling to and fro Port Moresby and Hela Province to follow up on my ILG’s funds that the Government and the Company owes my ILG. I owe creditors a huge sum of money for my expense in food, accommodation rental, hire cars while staying in Port Moresby to follow-up on my claim. And so I resort in such action I took”.
Magistrate Nill then told him that this court hearing was not the right time for him to explain his action because investigation is still on going. He told Tamu to explain himself during the trial.
Magistrate Nill then adjourned the next hearing to 25 January 2023 for police to collect witness statements from the victims.
Tamu, 48, and Ngibe Minape, 36, of Jokolopa village, and James Tinai, 46, of Jarale village, all from Hulia in Hela, appeared in Court accused of kidnapping Robin Febuar, Joshua Walukia, Dickson Tipou and an expatriate Timothy Stephen Bradley and keeping hostage. , They appeared in Court on charges of deprivation of liberty and intent to extort. They are now in remand at the Bomana jail outside Port Moresby.
Police alleged that on Sept 21, between 1.30pm and 3pm at the Santos oil field in Hela, these suspects kidnapped Febuar, Walukia, Tipou and Bradley.
It was alleged that the men painted their face with charcoal and armed with home-made guns, bush knives and other weapons when they attacked the oil field.
It was further alleged that they held the captives for four days against their will and personal liberty at Adju Water Source village.
The men were released after Santos PNG Ltd made numerous calls to the alleged perpetrators and their village elders in Port Moresby.
Police said Tamu, Minape and Tinai were part of a larger group of frustrated landowners who were trying to shut down the oil field.
On Oct 7, the trio were caught at Moro in Hela, detained and later transferred to Port Moresby.
Magistrate Nii further issued a warrant of remand for Tamu, Minape and Tinai to be under Correctional Service custody in Bomana.
Meanwhile e Police prosecutor Sgt Sandra Holland told the Court that the victims were unable to provide witness statements as they were still traumatized. She said Bradley had fled the country and refused to come back and give a sworn statement.
