Rape horror

Caption:  NDB Managing Director Memafu Kapera addressing disgruntled staff yesterday.

By MATTHEW VARI

Wednesday, October 15, 2014 (Midweek Chronicle, PNG)

THE media fraternity in the country has been attacked- following what could have been a routine drop-off, on Monday (October 13) night of staff from the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), turned horrible when a group of men from the suburb of Morota in NCD held up the NBC marked bus- kidnapping the female passengers and raping them.

According to witnesses in the bus during the incident- the bus was making its way out of the Morota One subsection around 8.30pm and was held up by criminals numbering close to 15 men armed with firearms and knives.

The driver of the vehicle stopped when attackers blocked the road and threatened to shoot, resulting in all male workers being forced out, with the female workers held at gunpoint and taken away.

Three female workers were taken deep within the suburb where they were sexually abused, with one staff member managing to flee her captors to the safety of a home in the area once the vehicle was brought to a specific location.

Quick reaction by their male colleagues to contact police, who responded promptly to contain in hours what, could have been an even worse situation.

Each of the three victims were rescued and taken to hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, disgruntled staff members conducted a sit-in protest starting yesterday with both mediums of radio and television put off the air.

Many staff members claimed that their security concerns had not been address on numerous occasions, leading to the incidents occurring the night before.

Managing Director for NBC Memafu Kapera informed his staff that the victims had undergone medical treatment and investigations were being undertaken by police.

He assured the staff of their safety with measures to improve transport security, reminding them of the dangers of being in an industry that is exposed to public view and opinions.