Detainees moved to Beon prison because Jomba’s run out of food

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By DOROTHY MARK
PEOPLE detained at the Jomba police station in Madang have been moved to the Beon prison because there is no food, police say.
Madang provincial police commander Chief Inspector Ben Neneo said they had run of funds to buy food for those detained at the police station cell.
“We are trying to assist with the situation,” Neneo said.
A report on the food shortage reached the Madang district court early this month. Senior provincial magistrate Josephine Kilage ordered the immediate transfer of detainees to Beon prison where there is adequate food supply.
A police officer who requested not to be named said some detainees were calling out for food from inside the cell last week.
“Governor Peter Yama heard their screams from the provincial government yard and gave K200. We bought rice for them,” the officer said.
Meanwhile, the old Jomba cell which was ordered by the national court last year for renovation is ready.
Police station commander Senior Inspector Jacob Bando said the lights had been fixed, water supply restored, walls repainted and toilet facilities upgraded.
The court in Madang ordered the 97 detainees held there t released to allow the cell to be renovated.
The old cell block will accommodate male detainees while the new one is for juveniles and women.