Policewoman who let suspect escape fails to appear in court

A POLICEWOMAN charged with permitting a suspect to escape from a police cell on Christmas Day did not appear before court on Friday.
Waigani Committal Court Magistrate Ore Ore adjourned the matter of Anne Arre, 32, of Moremaule village in Gumine, Chimbu, to May 10 for arraignment and extended her bail.
Police said Arre was attached to the Boroko Police Station.
On Dec 25, last year, she was on duty at the station cells when suspect Isaac Ipatas was detained on a charge of driving without licence and driving under the influence of alcohol. Arre released Ipatas without forwarding court files to the prosecution.
She did not notify the authorities of his movement.
The matter was later reported to the police station commander who wrote a show cause notice to Arre to explain her reasons for releasing Ipatas. She did not reply.
The matter was referred to the police internal affairs for further investigation.
Arre was summoned to police station for questioning and she denied the allegations.
She was later arrested and charged.