Tara suspended

 By BEATRICE BONAKOYA

BUIMO prison commander Judy Tara (pictured) was suspended on Friday pending investigations into the mass breakout by inmates on Thursday afternoon.

Acting Correctional Services Commissioner Bernard Nepo told The National yesterday Tara had been replaced by Supt Felix Nomane.

“The commander of Buimo is effectively suspended. The investigation will establish those who are at fault, Nepo said.

He said Nomane, who arrived in Lae on Saturday, was commander of Buiebie rural lock-up in Mendi, Southern Highlands.

Nepo confirmed that 18 convicted criminals were among the 94 that escaped from the Buimo prison at around 2 pm last Thursday.

“This thing happened about 2pm, a big number of remandees awaiting court were planning to get out of the gate. Probably there was a security lapse at the gate so they took advantage of that and a total of 94 made their way off,” he said.

“Out of the 94, 30 were recaptured. Of those 30 recaptured, 12 are confirmed dead and 18 are in critical condition,” he said.

“Four are in very critical condition and will join the line of those who passed away.”

Nepo said investigations would focus on possible involvement of prison officers in the mass escape.

He said an investigation team, led by Deputy CS Commissioner (Northern region) Joe Jako and police detectives, were in Lae while extra police had been sent from the Highlands.

“In a prison setting, there are criminal elements and prison officers sometimes collaborating with prisoners and so the investigation will establish what has happened at Buimo,” he said.

Last Thursday’s mass break out is the second to have occurred under Tara’s command. More than 50 inmates escaped in May last year from a high security compound in Buimo. It is understood a report was furnished to former CS Commissioner Michael Waipo with recommendations, which have yet to be implemented.

Nepo said he was consulting with Police Commissioner Gari Baki and police were put on full alert.

He added that he would ensure previous findings and recommendations would be addressed together with the current investigations into last Thursday’s incident.

Nepo, who was appointed as acting CS Commissioner early this month, said he had taken full responsibility over the incident and would deal with anyone involved.

“I am involving the police because I take this matter very seriously and I will take serious action on those found to be involved in this,” he said.

He said recommendations of previous investigations had not been implemented and it was “time for a clean-up”.

“I will be looking at recommendations of previous reports and will take action on those recommendations as well as this one,’ Nepo said.