Kavieng detainees ‘freed’

By MARJORIE FINKEO
POLICE in Kavieng have been forced to release people on remand after health authorities “condemned” the cell at the station last October.
New Ireland police commander Supt Gideon Ikumu said they could not keep people there any longer after officials from the provincial building board and health department declared them unfit for human habitation.
“Not only the cell but the whole police station has been condemned (for safety and health reasons). It urgently needs to be rebuilt,” he said
The cell block can hold 40 people.
Ikumu said they had to release people after they were charged. Those charged with minor offences are given tasks such as cleaning around the police station before they are released.
Those facing major offences are released but reminded to attend their court hearings without fail.
“Kavieng is a small place. It is not hard to locate suspects and many of them turn up in court,” he said.
“The people are peaceful and we trust them when we release them after laying charges.”
Kavieng Prison acting commander Senior Inspector Lamasisi Marengi said the closure of the cells was a concern to the maintenance of law and order.
“The administration and provincial authority must look into it and do something immediately.”
Marengi said there was a process to be followed to remand an offender in prison.
“There is no shortcut,” he said.
He said last week, a suspect was brought in by police to be kept in the prison. He said they were also experiencing delay in court hearings and overcrowding.
The province has Kavieng police station closed, Lihir police station, Konos police station along Buluminski Highway and Taskul rural lockup in Namatanai district.