Top cop anticipates rise in crime

NCD Metropolitan Police Commander Fred Yakasa yesterday warned that the 12 dangerous prisoners who escaped from Bomana may be on a “mission” and crime in PNG was likely to rise.
“We (the police) anticipate that the city (Port Moresby) and the rest of the country will experience an increase in criminal activities, now that these 12 are out free.
“We don’t know what their plans are; they are probably out with a serious mission,” Chief Supt Yakasa told a media conference yesterday afternoon.
The Met Supt also said that with the last Oct’s dash by 40 prisoners from the Bomana prison, “we are into serious trouble”.
He said yesterday’s escape by the 12 prisoners, who were behind bars for very serious offences, were now “a mammoth task for the police force”.
Supt Yakasa said the 12 escapees were considered very dangerous.
He called on the community at large to assist the police to rearrest them.
He also urged the prisoners to surrender voluntarily to the police.
Among the 12 is William Nanua Kapris, the alleged mastermind behind a series of high profile crimes, including the two BSP bank robberies in Kerema and Madang.
He was captured in 2008 while on the run from the police for eight years.
He had prior convictions and was jailed but escaped while seeking treatment at the hospital.
Supt Yakasa said the community had enjoyed “the peace” since Mr Kapris’ and the 11 others’ detention in prison.
“But now they are out free, the communities can anticipate spates of criminal activities,” he said.
Supt Yakasa said any person with any information to assist the police, to contact them on telephones: 3413940, 3413944 and 3413941 at the Boroko Police Station, which is now the Command Centre for this operation.