What has happened to the Chinese suspects in the Tan shooting?

There is a disturbing silence surrounding the case of the two Chinese men arrested for the attempted murder of business Jason Tan. Their case was due in court last Monday, the 29th, but things have been strangely quiet prompting rumours of political interference and corrupt deals.

The two Chinese accused of shooting Jason Tan

On January 2nd this year, Chinese businessman Jason Tan was shot at outside his home in Port Moresby.

A few minutes later two Chinese men, Chanjiang Gao and Xue Zhu Fu, were arrested at a police road block in the car seen at the scene of the shooting. They were in possession of guns, black face masks, gloves and their car had false number plates.

Both men were charged with attempted murder and Acting Assistant Police Commissioner. Awan Sete, siad the shooting confirmed the existence of Chinese Triads working in PNG and that the two men were hired assassins.

Despite the seemingly strong evidence against the two men and the fact that neither can speak English or Tok Pisin, one was unemployed and both probably in PNG illegally, magistrate Fred Tomo granted the two men bail on 12 February (a luxury rarely given to nationals when facing similar charges).

On March 15, we learned that police had still not interviewed the two men. The police claimed they could not find an interpreter and the Chinese Embassy was refusing to assist them. On that day, Tomo warned the police that he would dismiss the case against the two men if they did not complete their investigation.

But since then we have heard nothing and the silence is becoming deafening.

• Who was the registered owner of one of the guns the two Chinese were carryng when they were arrested?
• How did they get into PNG – who issued their visa’s?
• Why won’t the Chinese Embassy provide an interpreter?
• Who is paying for top lawyer Michael Wilson to defend the two men?
• And why do the police seem to be bungling their investigation?

Can Police Commissioner Baki please provide some answers?