Back behind bars after 5 years

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
A BOMANA prison escapee who was at large for five years was recently recaptured with the help of a community in Gulf, acting police commander Snr Insp Michael Pakyei says.
Hiri Kirihau Harisu, 32, was serving a 25-year sentence for wilful murder when he escaped in 2015 from Bomana and returned to his village at Pukari in Malalaua.
Snr Insp Pakyei said yesterday that Harisu was convicted and sent to Bomana in 2005 but escaped after serving 10 years.
Snr Insp Pakyei said Harisu was handed over to PNG Correctional Services officers who took him back to Bomana.
“I thank the peace officer, the councillor and the elders of Pukari village for handing Harisu back to us,” he said.
“It shows that the community is concerned with following the law and we are also appealing to other villages in the province to follow the example of the Pukari villagers,” he said.
In another incident, Snr Insp Pakyei said a 46-year-old woman collapsed and died after a fist fight over a tree at Wouwou village in Kikori last Monday.
“Two families fought during a mediation over a tree that was chopped down to make a canoe,” he said.
“Another family claimed the tree while the other family disputed it. It was only a fist fight and involved both men and women.
“No weapons were used. And after the fight was over the woman felt dizzy, vomitted blood and collapsed,” he said.
She was rushed to the Kikori Health Centre but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Snr Insp Pakyei said four men and two women had been arrested over the death and were now in custody pending an investigation.