Baisu officer charged with aiding jailbreak

A CORRECTIONAL Services (CS) officer allegedly involved in receiving bribes and aiding 83 prisoners in a mass breakout at the Baisu jail in Mt Hagen on April 13 this year was yesterday arrested and charged by police.
Police arresting officers at Mt Hagen police station told The National yesterday that the young CS officer, who is believed to have received more than K2, 000 in cash as bribe to aid the 83 prisoners dash for freedom, was brought in for questioning and later arrested.
The officer, who is only in his first year in the CS, was identified as Pte Kangi Tambi, 23, of Lawiri village in Pangia, Southern Highlands.
Mt Hagen metropolitan superintendent Chief Insp John Kale confirmed the arrest when contacted yesterday, adding that the officer is still in jail as police still wanted him for further questioning.
Kale said more information would be made known when police complete their investigations.
Police said Tambi faced charges of aiding prisoners to escape from lawful custody and for his part in the wilful murder of a prisoner who was among the 83 that escaped but found dead under mysterious circumstances near the perimeters of the jail.
Police said due to the seriousness of the case, Tambi had been refused bail and would appear for mention at the Mt Hagen District Court today.
Baisu CS prison commander Chief Supt Simon Sobaim confirmed the arrest and promised to vigorously get down to the root of the evil involving bribes that has corrupted and crippled jails.
Sobaim said others CS officers were also involved with Tambi to facilitate the mass break-out and police would track down them down using the information they have.
He reminded his 97 officers at the jail to be mindful of their professional duty, family responsibilities and uphold their oath to serve the state honestly instead of being involved in corrupt practices that would affect their career, family and the department in the long run.
He said he would not tolerate any more of such  incident during his time as commander of the jail and warned officers of serious disciplinary actions if they were caught.
Sobaim said Tambi had been suspended, put off the payroll and would be eventually be recommended for dismissal if found guilty.
He said some officers, who were also allegedly involved in sharing the money and aiding the prisoners to escape  would be investigated.
He said Tambi would be interrogated so that more names  be revealed to deal with the rogue officers.
Sobaim said during the break out, 23 were recaptured while two died.
One died under mysterious circumstances near the perimeters of the jail and the other in confinement after being recaptured.
Sobaim said one of the prisoners who escaped had revealed Tambi’s name, which led to his arrest.
Sobaim said more arrests would follow as the investigations continued.