Five officers from Bomana suspended

By MALINDA KALE
FIVE Correctional Services officers from the Bomana prison have been suspended from duty after a security lapse that led to the escape of 10 remandees last Monday, Southern region Assist Comm Henry Wavik says.
Wavik said the officers were on duty at the time of the escape and were suspended with pay pending investigations.
He said because of the constant flow of officers’ families, the general public, visitors and inmates from various units, the on-and-off entry and exits would have allowed the escapees to walk out undetected.
“Everyone, including the Correctional officers, prisoners and visitors wore PNG colours (shirts) which made it easier for the remandees to mingle among the crowd and walk out of the prison.”
Wavik said the 10 escapees were considered dangerous. Three of them were charged with murder and the other seven with armed robbery.
They are James Erei Aoda Demina also known as Demina Koi, 23, from Central, Mark Ronny, 20, from East New Britain, Jopo Simon, 27, from SHP, Neithan Epe, 28, from Hanuabada (NCD), Brian Kove, 32, from Gulf, Daniel Mathew, 22, from Enga, Apawa Kowei, 18, from Central, Putupa Paul, 30, from Eastern Highlands, Philip Egomie, 19, from Central and Thomas Inaro, 28, from Northern.