Attempted escape foiled

POLICE foiled an attempted breakout at Mendi jail in Southern Highlands early yesterday.
About 30 prisoners and remandees were stripped and searched and a key to the inside jail door was found.
A frustrated provincial police commander Supt Gideon Kauke said he directed the Criminal Investigation Division to investigate immediately how the key to the inside jail door was in the hands of the convicts and remandees.
“I want a thorough investigation carried out. They (convicts and remandees) opened the inside door easily and were in the process of breaking through the outside door when police on night shift caught them,” Kauke said.
“This is a serious issue, I want to know who was in the process of aiding the law-breakers,” he said.
He said the biggest challenge the province was facing was the issue of Buiebi prison not being in operation and prisoners could not be taken there.
Kauke said currently minor offenders were not arrested due to the closure of Buiebi Jail.
He said Baisu prison commander Supt Timbi Kaulga said he would not accept any prisoners from Enga and Southern Highlands. He said Kaulga urged the two governors to enlarge their own provincial jails at Mukurumanda in Enga and Buiebi in Southern Highlands.
Kauke also said that Mt Hagen District Court Magistrate Betty Jacob suggested the two provinces build their own jails because of overcrowding.
“I am calling on the Correctional Services hierarchy to do something to reopen the Buiebi prison. It is making the work of police in the province very complicated,” he said.
“If nothing is done, I will order police not to make any more arrests.”
The burning down of the Mendi National and District Courthouse has forced the Buiebi Correctional Service to transfer its prisoners to Baisu.