Politicians funded escape

Kapris names 3 politicians in shocking tell-all

 IN a shocking tell-all, suspected bank robbery William Kapris has reportedly told police that three politicians funded his escape from the Bomana prison as well as his criminal activities.

Kapris, who described himself as a “marked man” during the questioning, is said to have named the three politicians along with some prominent leaders and businessmen.

Sources told The National that apart from financing his escape from Bomana prison on Jan 12 with “a few hundred thousand kina”, these people had also allegedly funded Kapris’ criminal activities, including three high-profile robberies involving millions of kina.

Kapris told police he knew he was a marked man because of the “damaging” information he held.

“He said the ‘leaders’ were deeply involved,” a source told The National.

Kapris also alleged that a “black bank” located in Port Moresby’s Gordon suburb was also involved.

He claimed the “black bank” was operated by a Chinese man who had links to Singapore.

During the interrogation, Kapris gave specific details on how he and his accomplices robbed the Metals Refining Operations (MRO) of 13 gold bullion bars (each worth about K2.5 million), the Kerema BSP of about K800,000 and the Madang BSP of about K2.4 million.

The three politicians were allegedly paid about K350, 000 each for the Madang BSP robbery and another K40, 000 for the Kerema job.

Kapris himself got about K60, 000 to organise and fund the Madang robbery.

He said all were “inside jobs” and that there were no hold-ups, no kidnaps, and no guns involved in any of the three cases.

He said the “insiders” opened the safes and handed the loot to his gang.

The gold bars were allegedly disposed of by the operator of the “black bank”.

Kapris said the loot was hidden away for safekeeping and later distributed among themselves and their “financiers”, including the politicians and insiders.

He claimed he was planning to travel with the man to Singapore on Dec 2, 2008, when he was arrested.

Kapris is expected to appear in court today for a second mention in relation to his prison escape on Jan 12 from Bomana maximum security jail.

The sources were not able to tell The National whether details of the interrogation had been submitted to Police Commissioner Gari Baki.