Prison given 14-day notice to clean up or face closure

WESTERN’s Daru Prison was given a 14-day notice by the Daru Hospital health workers to clean up the facility and carry out maintenance or face closure on Jan 20.
Daru Correctional Service commanding officer Insp Eliora Apuri said the health workers found many problems in the facility that needed to be fixed to protect the health of prison inmates.
“The health workers requested licensed contractors to carry out maintenance, like plumbing, electrical, and the renovation of the prison buildings.
“The prison currently has more than 60 prisoners.
“The immediate concern is where to house the prison inmates if it is closed,” he added.
Apuri said he had liaised with the Middle Fly District Development Authority (DDA) and “we are working to engage a contractor carry out the maintenance work”.
Community leader Kevin Sida said the closure of the jail would see more troublemakers “in our communities”.
“Daru shares the border with (Indonesia’s) West Papua,” Apuri said.
“Many of the suspects caught entering Papua New Guinea illegally are held in this prison,” he added.
The prison houses detainees from Balimo (Middle Fly) and Daru (South Fly).
Ningrum Prison accommodates convicts from Tabubil and Kiunga courts.