Bad road makes moving prisoners dangerous

POOR road conditions and the use of hired vehicles are making it dangerous to transfer remanded prisoners from Baisu jail to court in Western Highlands, the jail commander says
Baisu is in a remote area, about an hour’s drive from Mt Hagen. Jail commander Superintendent Timbi Kaugle described the road as “very bad” and said it had not been maintained for a long time.
“It is very risky for all the prisoners and the officers but we have been doing what we can do to bring order and peace among every community,” he said.
Accused on remand are taken daily from the jail to court for hearings, some to Mt Hagen and Jiwaka and Porgera in Enga.
Kaugle is asking the provincial government to help repair the road.
The hired vehicles used, 10-seater vans, do not have safety features that can protect the prison guards and their life is therefore put at risk every time they leave thee prison compound and drive remand prisoners to court.
The prison vehicle has broken down and is no longer in use.
“The road needs to be fixed,” Kaugle. He takes at least four prisoners to court and back five times a day each week.