Prison escapee finally caught after 10 years on the run

A MAN who escaped lawful custody 10 years ago in Lae is expected be sentenced by the National Court in Waigani next week.
Police in Port Moresby arrested Andrew Jawa at Hohola in April last year.
Jawa, from Yamap village in Salamua, Morobe, was serving a 12-year sentence for armed robbery and one year for escaping lawful custody.
He escaped on March 7, 2008.
In the National Court, Judge George Manuhu found Jawa guilty and refused an application by Jawa’s lawyer Agnes Peter from the Public Solicitor’s Office to make a pre-sentence submission.
Justice Manuhu said Jawa was already a prisoner. He adjourned the matter to Sept 19 for sentencing.
The court heard that when the police officers who arrested him in Port Moresby checked his records, they discovered that he was an escapee.
He escaped from Buimo during a ceremony to open a newly-built watchtower in the prison compound.
Jawa and others were allowed out by prison authorities to witness the event.
Warders found out that he had gone missing when the event ended in the afternoon.
It is still not clear how Jawa escaped that day.