FOUR male suspects have been arrested by police in relation to the armed hold-up at Asco Petrol Station on Fatafehi Road, where a 53-year-old male supervisor was shot on his leg on January 6.

Acting Police Commissioner Taniela Faletau said on January 17, the men had been each charged with conspiracy to armed robbery and were remanded in police custody.

Police investigators and a Tactical Response Group first arrested a 30-year-old man from Pahu on January 12 and charged him with one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

Three other three male suspects were arrested on January 16 after police executed a number of search warrants at Veitongo, Halaliku and Mataika in Kolofo'ou, he said.

The search warrant resulted in three further arrests of a 32-year-old man from Falevai in Vava'u, who was living at Fangaloto and Veitongo; a 31-year-old man from Kolonga living at Mataika; and a 31-year-old from Vaini who lived at Veitongo.

All four suspects are remanded in police custody under the order of the Magistrate's Court and would appear at the Magistrate's Court at Fasi on Monday, January 23.

Taniela said that during the search warrant at Halaliku at Veitongo police found a .22 calibre handgun (pistol) and police were continuing to search for a firearm used in the robbery.

He said that the men were charged \with one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery but police were continuing their investigations into the incident.