Cleaning, maintenance work begins at Jomba cells

By DOROTHY MARK
Cleaning and maintenance work at the Jomba police cells began over the weekend following a National Court order for work to be done immediately.
Judge David Cannings issued an order for the provincial government to make available K50,000 of which K25,000 was to be paid to the contractor that built a new female and juvenile cell block as part payment.
Another K25,000 was to be paid to police for the clean-up and maintenance of the current cell block.
Madang acting police commander Senior Inspector Jacob Bando said the contractor had gave him keys to the new cells which were available for use.
Bando said Madang administrator Daniel Aloi had arranged a contractor for the clean-up and maintenance of the old cell block.
Cannings said the cell was unfit for human occupation.
The clean-up came after he ordered for 36 detainees to be released on human rights grounds.
Cannings’ orders followed the filing of a report by national court officials about the cell conditions and over crowdedness.