East New Britain police capture accused sex offender

By ROSELYN ELLISON
AN accused sex offender who had slipped through a church gathering in prison and rode his way to freedom last year was captured in Gazelle, East New Britain, last week.
Police in Kokopo nabbed the escapee from Kerevat jail at the Tagitagi village in the Toma-Vunadidir local level government (LLG) on Wednesday after a tip-off.
Chief Insp Joseph Tabali said Karlo Womola, 26, from Nordup village in the Kombui LLG of Rabaul, was remanded on a bench warrant for alleged sexual penetration.
Chief Insp Tabali said Womola attended a church service at the Kerevat jail with 98 other prisoners that was arranged by youths from Napapar village.
He said during the service, Womola snuck into the crowd, got on a bicycle and escaped out of the prison camp without duty guards noticing him.
Chief Insp Tabali said he was living with his uncle at Tagitagi village where he was recaptured near the Mater Dei School.
He said Womola was now back at the Kerevat jail.
He will be charged with escaping custody. Chief Insp Tabali said police in the province were appealing to other escapees at large to surrender and return to jail to serve their sentence.
“There are still many escapees out there and police urge ward members and communities to help bring them back,” Chief Insp Tabali said.