Escape mastermind gives up

A SUSPECT wanted by police for his alleged involvement in executing the daring escape of bank robbery suspect William Nanua Kapris and 11 other hardcore criminals out of the Bomana jail on Jan 12 surrendered to police yesterday.
Police said the suspect, Neil ‘Diamond’ Arikawa, who was accompanied by a community leader in Gerehu to the Gerehu police station, was taken into police custody before being brought to the police headquarters at Konedobu around midday yesterday.
Arikawa arrived at Konedobu in the company of three police officers, including Gerehu police station commander, Insp Steven Kapera.
Deputy police commissioner, operations, Anthony Wagambie received the suspect together with reporters at the police headquarters prior to his transfer to the Boroko police station for questioning.
Police said Arikawa, 29, was from Oro and Central.
DCP Wagambie said Arikawa was one of six people including the female “human rights lawyer”, who allegedly assisted Kapris and 11 other prisoners escape from the Bomana maximum lock up on Jan 12.
He said he was persuaded to come out of hiding after numerous consultations between the police and community leaders at Gerehu.
During the meeting at police headquarters, DCP Wagambie while commending community leaders for effectively cooperating with the police investigations, also apologised on behalf of police for any inconvenience that might have been caused to the public during this operations.
He made particular reference to the detention and interrogation by police of the “female lawyer’s” family members in Lae last month.
He said this was unfortunate but it had been for the benefit of the public at large.
Arikawa is alleged to have been involved in planning and facilitating the escape.
The suspect was later picked up by detectives from the major organised crime intelligence team (MOCIT), and taken to Boroko police station for further questioning.
DCP Wagambie, when announcing the surrender of Arikawa before reporters yesterday appealed to the media to uphold their professional ethics when reporting on issues surrounding the escape and recapture of prison escapees.