NOTORIUS CRIMINAL IN KOKOPO KILLED

By Wasita ROYAL, Kokopo

A well-known criminal in Kokopo, East New Britian Province, Devete Taling, who police say was behind many robberies and crimes in the province, has been killed. He died after a fight with people from the Raniolo community.

This morning, at 9 o’clock, Kokopo Police Station Commander (PSC) Neil Weiba told FM100 News that the criminal is dead. He was the one causing all the hold-ups in Kokopo.

According to police reports on Sunday, March 23rd, Taling and six others, while drunk, set fire to three houses in Raniolo. This led to a fight where two homeowners were badly hurt.

After this, the people of Raniolo went after Taling and his group. When they tried to catch him, Taling fought back and tried to run away. But a large group of people caught him, and he was killed.

When police arrived, they found Taling’s body cut up. The police have taken his body to the hospital morgue.

PSC Weiba said Taling was a dangerous criminal who had escaped from Kerevat prison in 2021. He had been on the run ever since.

He says This man was a big danger to the community. He was involved in many robberies and other serious crimes that scared the people of Kokopo.

Weiba asked the public to keep working with the police to keep the area safe. He says it is important to help make citizen arrests when it is safe to do so.

He says a full police report will be released later. “We thank the community for their actions,” said Weiba. “This shows that crime will not be allowed in Kokopo.”