Surrender voluntarily, prison escapees told

 By PISAI GUMAR

LAE police chief Iven Lakatani has appealed to Buimo jail escapees to voluntarily surrender.

The Met Supt has also urged relatives and local communities not to harbour the escapees and to take them in.

Lakatani said this following the mass breakout at Buimo last Sunday in which 10 convicted prisoners and 34 remandees from Buimo jail in Lae dashed for freedom at about 9.30am.

As of yesterday, 19 escapees were recaptured while 25 were still at large. A remandee was shot dead soon after the breakout.

“Their escape also poses a threat and risk to the community based on the nature of various crimes committed,” Lakatani said.

“Therefore parents, relatives and the community need to be mindful never to accommodate them, instead surrender voluntarily,

“Sheltering an escapee is a crime in itself.” 

Meanwhile, Buimo jail commander Supt Judy Tala confirmed yesterday that 32 of the escapees were high risks prisoners awaiting their cases in the National Court.

“When we say high risk prisoners, we are referring to prisoners’ gravity and nature of crime committed, pending cases and history of the escapee, if escaped previously,” she said.

“Nature and gravity of high risk crimes include murder, arm robbery, rape including offences that threatens or involves human lives and society.”

Tala confirmed that the escapees did not include serious crime offenders in the jail’s maximum security unit.

She said the escapees were rated average but were still a threat to community. Most escapees were believed to be from various areas in  Morobe.