Escapee shot dead

 By EVAH KUAMIN

A REMANDEE from the Kerevat jail who escaped from lawful custody was shot by police at the Kereba Block during the Christmas period.

Provincial police commander Supt Sylvester Kalaut said the escapee was identified as Renson Papalum from Rakunat village in the Balanataman local level government area.

Kalaut said Papalum had been involved in a number of crimes that were committed in the Kerevat area before Christmas.

Kalaut said police had been informed that Papalum was the main suspects in an armed robbery and hold-up at the Echo Trading in Kerevat.

He added that Papalum had been also terrorising the public around the township and nearby areas of Kerevat.

Following a shoot-out with police after a tip off, Papalum was shot in the back and waist.

He was immediately rushed to the Kerevat Hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Kalaut said police had mounted special operations in the Kerevat area after during Christmas.

He said the operation was to look into complaints received from the public and reports from the police station of increasing crimes in the Kereba and Kerevat  areas.

Police said they had arrested Papalum and was being remanded for five months over a sexual penetration case at the Kerevat jail.

However, he had escaped and was living around the Kereba Block and Kerevat township.

Police added that he became a threat to public safety that they had to act to put him back in jail but was shot in the process.