Chinese nationals in Western Highlands released

WHP Provincial Police Commander, John Sagom talking with the Chinese nationals outside Mt Hagen police station. The Chinese national in the black jacket is the deputy chair of the China PNG Friendship Association (NBC News)

Two Chinese men and a woman including a male PNG local were held hostage this morning in Mt Hagen.

Police are yet to find out the motive behind the capture of these four people. but believe it was a planned hostage.

The three and their local help were taken to the border of Jiwaka and Western Highlands by three suspects dressed in police uniforms who drove a 'Z' plated vehicle of which the police in Mt Hagen established that it belongs to Jiwaka Police.

Upon a tip off by locals at the border, all units for the Western Highlands Command were called off for today and all went to the suspected hostage area and rounded it up with the help of a PNGDF platoon.

A ransom of K1million was demanded but police is yet to establish if this amount was paid in exchange for the release of the Chinese nationals and their local help.

Though they were traumatized they appeared to look calm.

Western Highlands Provincial Police Commander, John Sagom has instructed the Criminal Investigation Unit to do a thorough investigation into this hostage situation as it is the first of its kind to happen in the Western Highlands Province.

The three suspects are still at large however police have apprehended a suspect who is now locked up at the Mt Hagen Police Station cell.