Nine escape from police

 NINE people detained at the Tari police station cells, in Hela, escaped on Tuesday morning after breaking through the back of the cell block.

Hela provincial police commander Superintendent Mark Yangen said restricted use of power at night was one of the reasons behind the breakout.

The detainees were transferred from the Buiebi Correctional Service in Southern Highlands last week to have their cases heard at the Tari District Court. But the court case was cancelled after a clash between locals and police forced the magistrate to return to Mendi.

The escapees include two facing murder charges, two charged with arson, one with rape and four for other offences.

“Power comes on at 6pm and goes off at 10pm. We have no generator at the police station and it is very dangerous for the policemen to work in the dark,” Yangen said. 

“So what they do is patrol the police station and the town.”

He said the cell blocks had been damaged earlier during a standoff between soldiers and police officers and had not been repaired.

“They (detainees) should have been detained at the Hawa CS but no attempts have been made to upgrade the facility,” he said.

He warned Hela people not to help or harbour the escapees.

“They are very dangerous to the community and police need their assistance to recapture them,” he said.

He appealed to the escapees to surrender to the police.