By ELIZABETH VUVU
DUE to constraints faced with funds to transfer recently sentenced prisoners from Manus to the Kerevat jail in East New Britain, some prisoners convicted for serious crimes are allegedly “on the loose” causing fear and silent outcry among womenfolk in Manus.
Since the closure of the Manus jail early this year, prisoners convicted in Manus were supposed to be moved to Kerevat jail to serve time.
During recent National Court sittings in Manus, Justice Gibbs Salika convicted 20 men for offences such as rape, manslaughter, armed robbery and sexual penetration of a minor.
These prisoners had been sentenced to more than five years in prison.
Justice Salika had made an order for the prisoners to be transferred to Kerevat but according to Manus police, they were still awaiting tickets from the Correctional Service headquarters.
When asked to comment about prisoners allegedly roaming freely in Lorengau, a senior police officer in Manus said he could not comment, but “whatever rumour heard might be true”.
The police officer said the Manus police station cells could hold only 18 people.
The officer, however, said currently there were more than 50 people in the cells, and confirmed that some prisoners were roaming outside the police cells.
The Pihi Manus Women’s Association has raised concerns over the issue with authorities in the province.