Police in Papua New Guinea have confirmed the force's Assistant Commissioner, Tony Wagambie, has been held up and assaulted by six armed men.
The assault occurred on Wednesday when Mr Wagambie was in uniform and just 400 metres from the Gordons Police Station in Port Moresby, where Australian police are based.
The assailants stole Mr Wagambie's vehicle, a mobile phone and a small amount of cash.
A detachment of 145 Australian police arrived in January as part of the five-year Enhanced Co-operation Programme.
