Papua New Guinea's Minister for Culture and Tourism says he's been arrested for attempted murder and is denying the charge.
Guma Wau says a group tried to rob him while he was travelling two months ago in his official vehicle in the Chimbu district of Kerowagi.
Mr Wau says he was arrested and charged on Friday with attempted murder and police are now investigating.
"In my possession I've got a licensed pistol with me and I never shot the raskals but I just fired two shots in the air to dispatch them and then they were running all over the place and then I drove off."
Mr Wau says police appeared soon after and also fired shots.
He says he will appear in the Kundiawa District Court later this month, and will deny the charge.
