“Spare me for my sons”: Guard held at knifepoint in wharf robbery

A security guard and father of two threatened with a cane knife during an alleged robbery begged his attackers to spare him for the sake of his two young sons sleeping nearby.

Paula Vale, 39, was allegedly handcuffed, forced to kneel, and held at knifepoint by seven suspects who climbed the fence at Sealand Processes Fiji Limited, Millers Wharf, Walu Bay, around 2am on Monday.

“One of them stood on my head and held the cane knife to my neck,” Mr Vale said.

“I told them, please remember I have two sons; 12 and 10 years old, sleeping on the other side.”

The suspects, dressed in freezer suits and covering their faces, stole a safe and fled in a fibreglass boat.

The operation lasted eight to 10 minutes.

Mr Vale’s sons, whom he had brought to work because their mother was away, waited until the attackers left before coming to their father’s aid.

"I thank my children for their bravery," he said. "They came to open the door for me and pulled me up and untied me."

After ensuring the attackers had left, Mr Vale ran to the other side of the jetty for help. Police arrived at his workplace later that day.

Despite the trauma, Mr Vale returned to work at the same location where the attack occurred.

"Afterwards, I struggled to sleep at home, but I managed to come back to work," he said.

"I'm still grateful that I am still employed and able to provide for my family."

Mr Vale, who has worked at Sealand for six years, said if his children had not been present, the outcome could have been fatal.

"If my kids had not been there, it could have been my last day," he said.

His wife fears the gang members might return to target him.

"I want to appeal to anyone involved in such acts to think about your family," he said.

"If you do this kind of harm, how will your family survive?"

A spokesperson for Sealand Processes Fiji Limited said they could not comment as they had to contact their director.

Attempts to reach them were unsuccessful when this edition went to press.

Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed one person is in custody while the search continues for accomplices.

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