Lae police station cells filled beyond capacity: Kunyanban

THE Lae Central police station cells are accommodating far more than the prescribed number of people in the spaces, according to Lae Met Supt Chief Insp Chris Kunyanban.
He said 160 convicts and remandees were squeezed into the cells made for 100 over the past five months. He said this had come about because Buimo jail was on lockdown and through Covid-19 protocols.
He said they had to go through proper medical checks before being sent to Buimo.
This will be complicated and perhaps prolonged due to a confirmed Covid-19 case at the prison.
The Lae Central police station cell has the capacity to hold 100 or fewer at any one time.
“Some convicts who were sentenced to only a few months have had their sentences served here at the police cell,” Chief Insp Kunyanban said.
He said those that served their sentences in the police cell were released.
It is understood that some of those spending time there are females, juveniles and older people.