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?

Bail for Chinese murder suspects a disgrace – but not a surprise

The ugly face of corruption and the power and influence of the Chinese mafia was clearly on display in Port Moresby on Friday as Magistrate Fred Tomo granted bail to two Chinese men accussed of the shooting and attempted murder of businessman Jason Tan on January 2nd this year.

The two Chinese, Chanjiang Gao and Xue Zhufu, were released on bail of just K2,000 each despite the facts of the case which include that neither man can speak English or Tok Pisin, one is unemployed, both were arrested close to the scene of the attempted murder, both were in the vehicle from the crime scene, and they were in possession of guns, one of which was unlicensed, black face masks and gloves and false number plates.

The two Chinese suspects have been released

Clearly it is highly likely that both men will now disappear from sight and it is very unlikely that either will ever appear in court again. No wonder the National newspaper reported they were “beaming with happiness and making thumbs up signs” when coming out of court.

Both Magistrate Fred Tomo, who granted the two men bail despite the overwhelming evidence against them, the flight risk and the seriousness of the charges; and the police investigating the case who apparently have done little to advance the prosecution over the last six weeks should be forced to explain themselves.

When Mr Tan was shot at on January 2nd and the two Chinese arrested, we all expected that the Chinese mafia would ensure that justice would NOT be done. Mr Tomo and the police it seems have proved us all correct.

Senior cop says no bribes – not this time anyway!

A senior police officer investigating the attempted murder of businessman Julian Tan in Port Moresby has said that he will not tolerate any bribes. Anyone caught offering bribes will be arrested and charged, he says.

The officer is on the public record saying “the whole world is focused on this case… so we will not tolerate bribes”.

While it is encouraging to hear one senior officer saying he will not tolerate bribes in this high profile case what do his statements tell us about the state of our police force and criminal justice system.

Clearly the bribing of police officers is common practice – and most if not all police officers are either involved in the practice or are complicit through their silence when they see it happen.

The fact that police officers are too scared, either for their physical security or loss of their job, to speak out when they see fellow officers accepting bribes means that there must be a culture of corruption that reaches to the very top of our police force.

Why does a senior investigating officer have to insist on anonymity when he says he will not tolerate bribes in a high profile case? It is because he does not feel he has the support of his superior officers. Why is Garry Baki, the Police Commissioner, not supporting this officer? Why has he not come out and said that bribes will not be tolerated?

Many other questions in the Julian Tan case still remain unanswered.

Who is the businessman who is the registered owner of one of the firearms found in possession of the arrested suspects?

How and when did the suspects enter PNG and what travel documents did they have?

How did one of the men have a work permit when he can neither speak nor understand English or tok pisin?

How big was “the large” quantity of foreign currencies found in their guesthouse rooms?

The attempted murder of Julian Tan tells us more about the corruption in our police force and the complicity of our politicians than it does about the dangers of living in Port Moresby.

Tan shooting – who let these men into PNG?

Changjiang Gao and Xue Zhufu have been charged with attempted murder

Changjiang Gao and Xue Zhufu, both from Fujan province in China, have been charged with the attempted murder of businessman Jason Tan in Port Moresby.

Neither man can speak English or tok pisin but police are not saying how the men came to be living in PNG.

Did these men have PNG passports? Did they have valid visas? Who issued their travel documents and when and where did they enter the country? Which officials were involved in allowing these men to be here? Who was the registered owner of one of the semi-automatic guns used in the attempted murder?

The public has the right to know the answers to these questions. If the police do not provide the answers then we will know the reason – corruption.

Chinese arrested for attempted murder – but who is to blame?

Two Chinese nationals have been arrested for the attempted murder of businessman Jasan Tan. Both men are from Fujan province. According to police, one was working in a nightclub the other was unemployed. Neither can speak any English or tok pisin.

Changjiang Gao, aged 36, and Xue Zhufo, 38, were in possession of two semi-automatic hand guns when they were arrested.

One of the handguns was a registered firearm but police have not revealed the identity of the owner.

Police have also not revealed how the two men came to be in PNG or how long they have been living here  – but the fact that one of them is reported to have been working in a nightclub suggests they are long-term residents and not temporary visitors.

Acting Assistant Police Commissioner, Awan Sete, has said the attempted murder confirms the existence of Asian triads operating in PNG and that criminals are being hired as assassins.

But it would be wrong of us to just blame this shocking crime on the Chinese triads.

How do these people get into PNG? How do they manage to remain here and operate their illegal businesses? How do they buy property and get access to guns?

It seems the answers are obvious – Chinese triads and gang members are living and operating in PNG because they bribe our politicians, our officials and the police.

Given this background of corruption can we really expect to see these two suspects tried in court and serving long prison sentences?

The fact that the police are already covering up key information – like who was the registered owner of one of the guns, who issued these men with their visas etc – means that a cynical public are already expecting the worst. How long will it be before these men are set free and who will be responsible?

Two high profile assassination attempts

There have been two high profile assassination attempts in Port Moresby over the past few weeks.

First, Chief Ombudsman Chronox Manek, was left for dead in his Nissan Patrol late in the evening on the 10th of December.

Then prominent business man, Jason Tan, was shot outside his home at 3.30pm on the 2nd of January.

These shootings confirm what most Papua New Guinean’s already know – Port Moresby can be a dangerous place and illegal firearms are far too prevalent.

But the two assassination attempts also underline the endemic corruption that plagues PNG and the grave problems the new multi million dollar liquified natural gas projects will face – and almost inevitably make worse.