Officer sidelined for role in escape

By ROSELYN ELLISON
A POLICE officer attached with the public safety unit at Lorengau Police Station in Manus was suspended from duty last Wednesday for allowing a prisoner to escape from police cell.
According to the Manus police commander chief inspt David Yapu, the officer allegedly opened the cell door and allowed the prisoner to go to a relative to fetch water when he made his escape last Monday night.
The prisoner is still at large.
Yapu was frustrated about what happened.
He suspended the officer and directed the Lorengau station commander to immediately conduct an investigation and have the officer charged for allowing the prisoner to escape.
The prisoner, Charles Carol Ndreyeh, was charged with murder and sentenced to 17 years and serving time at the Lorengau jail.
He first escaped when escorted to Lorengau Hospital for medical treatment on Sept 17.
Yapu said Ndreyeh was recaptured and was locked up at the Lorengau police cell but escaped again.
Yapu said Manus police officers had done well by recapture some of the high risk escapees and these escapees were charged and will appear in court.
Yapu said for one of the police officer to do such is not acceptable.