26 escapees back behind bars

By JACKLYN SIRIAS
A total of 26 escapees from the Kerevat prison in East New Britain are back in prison after being recaptured.
East New Britain police commander Joseph Tabali told The National that the group included prisoner Paul Madu from Una Kadi village in Gazzelle district at Una Divir who was recaptured yesterday.
“From the 41 that escaped, 15 are still outstanding. Five of them are remandees and 10 are convicted prisoners,” he said.
Tabali said the Kerevat jail break happened on Nov 14 last year.
“I am appealing to the members of the public to assist police in reporting the escapees’ whereabouts if they know of them.”
He said the 15 still at large were high risk prisoners as they would pose a threat to the communities especially women and children.
Tabali said that villages needed to be aware and not let women and children go to the gardens or rivers by themselves.
“If women want to go to the gardens or rivers, they need to walk in groups,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tabali said people could contact the toll free numbers (Kokopo 180 0001, Rabaul 180 0022, Kerevat 180 0030) to report anything relating to the escapees that were still on the run.