Man stranded in Indonesia after serving prison term

A PAPUA New Guinean is reported to be stranded in Sulawesi, Indonesia, after completing his four year sentence for drug smuggling, according to PNG Consul general Colonel Geoffrey Wiri.
Ronald Akuwere from Arop in Aitape, West Sepik, was among seven PNG prisoners who were transferred from Doyo Narcotic prison in Jayapura City, Papua Province to Bolangi prison.
Wiri said the PNG prisoners were transferred in September 2018 after a mass jail break out which 11 PNG prisoners escaped and are believed to be back in PNG.
Wiri said Akuwere is still in Indonesian immigration custody after been released last week from Bolangi narcotic prison in Makassar.
He said according to discussions with Indonesian Immigration and Prison officials, it seems that they will not be responsible to repatriate Akuwere to West Sepik from Sulawesi via Jayapura.
“After all they should repatriate him as they were the ones who had transferred Akuwere from Doyo to Bolangi. And I heard that Akuwere’s relatives are preparing to pay for his ticket I also heard that he is very sick.
“We don’t have any say in this matter from Jayapura and I don’t have extra funds to cater for this expenses so it’s a bit unfortunate”.
Wiri said it is about four hour’s flight from Makassar to Jayapura City and the airfares are about K600.
“Government Authorities in Jayapura have only paid airfares for the two escort Immigration officers to fly to Makassar from Jayapura.
“However they are still stuck in Makassar as we will not process his Documents of Identity to deport him back to West Sepik unless he is physically here in Jayapura.”
Meanwhile, an Indonesian official said Indonesian based PNG foreign missions are supposed to assist repatriate Akuwere to West Sepik.