Four escapees remain at large

Four detainees from Buimo jail in Lae, Morobe, dashed for freedom last week while on their way from prison’s main compound to the clinic for medical treatment, according to official reports.
Correctional Services Commissioner Stephen Pokanis confirmed to The National yesterday after receiving a report from Buimo Correctional Services officials that the four men, who had been remanded at the jail awaiting their court appearances, escaped while on their way to receive medical treatment.
Pokanis said the incident occurred last Friday at around 10am when the detainees were released from the main holding block to go to the clinic in the prison compound.
The men scaled the barbed wire fence and escaped.
He said CS and police officers were still searching for the four.
Buimo jail commander Michael Wundia said the clinic was located inside the prison facility.
Wundia said the breakout was a result of a communication breakdown between the officers manning the prison gate and those at the operational base that led to the security lapse. Wundia said an internal investigation was underway into the incident last week.
“We are also in the process of identifying these weaknesses and to put measures for improvement to avoid the same mistake,” he said.