K840,000 used in manhunt for Kapris, Walimini

 MORE than K840,000 was used by the Correctional Services (CS) in the past three months to hunt down prison escapees William Kapris, Raphael Walimini, CS Minister Jim Simitab said yesterday.

He said this was an “over-expenditure” that would seriously affect the implementation of other CS programmes this year.

Simatab said the manhunt, which began on May 14 after the pair escaped from Bomana jail outside Port Moresby, had necessitated an improved prison security infrastructure.

“The mounting of a search operation to apprehend prison escapees is a difficult and costly exercise,” he said.

“Bomana is the nation’s prime correctional institution and the department will improve its fencing.”

Simitab said it was crucial that better and standardised fencing be adopted in all correctional institutions and that electronic security devices would also be installed to monitor movements of detainees, warders and visitors at the prisons.

“The department will adopt better training for its staff at all levels to enhance officers’ technical and mental capacity in dealing with different categories of detainees.”