Prison boss denies allegations

ACTING Kavieng jail commander Insp Lamasisi Marengi has denied allegations that his office had prevented an investigation into the death of a remandee.
“I have granted permission for police to come to the prison and investigate the death of late Manus Sokia. But police have not approached me yet and it has been one year now,” he said.
Insp Marengi said this yesterday after acting provincial police commander Snr Insp Gabriel N’Drihim had raised concern about the death.
N’Drihim alleged that PNG Correctional Services officers at Kavieng jail had beaten Sokia to death on June 7, 2019, after he had tried to escape.
“He was arrested for armed robbery and remanded in jail,” he said. “He had attempted to escape with two other remandees but failed while the other two got away. He was caught by the warders and beaten to death.”
N’Drihim said he had written to Marengi to allow police to investigate the death of Sokia. “The Ombudsman Commission also wrote to Marengi after receiving complaints from Sokia’s parents.”