Twenty break out of police cell

TWENTY detainees at the Yangoru police station broke the cell’s metal door and escaped last week
East Sepik police commander Superintendent Robert Gesa said yesterday the cell was overcrowded.
“There is overcrowding of police station cells in Wewak, Maprik and Yangoru because we have shortages of magistrates. We are having problems in overcrowding cells in the province,” Gesa said.
He said the suspects were arrested by the Lae-based mobile squad officers now on operation in Yangoru-Saussia electorate detained for various offenses like consumption of homebrew, drug, carrying offensive weapons and other incidences.
Gesa said the cells are not meant for more than 20 detainees.
Meanwhile, an expatriate was allegedly shot by landowners while searching for gold in Angoram.
Gesa said the man was employed by an alluvial mining company and was prospecting for gold at Tamo, near the border of Enga, when he got into a dispute with landowners.
His company immediately evacuated him by helicopter to Wewak for medical treatment.
He was reportedly shot on Wednesday and suffered serious injuries.
Police from Angoram have been deployed to the area to investigate.