Wanted criminal at large

 A detainee suspected of a number of serious crimes has escaped from police custody.

A furious Joint Security Forces Contingent Commander Norman Kambo wants a full investigation into it and people responsible for the escape dealt with harshly.

The notorious Kulupu Yabe, 36, from Haripa village in the Tari district, Hela, escaped from the Boroko cell in Port Moresby last month.

He was captured in Tari town in May and escaped while in police custody awaiting his trial.

Kambo said he believed conspiracy was involved.

Yabe had been apprehended in the Porgera Call-Out Operation in May.

The suspect was transferred to Port Moresby for security reasons on June 18 and escaped six days later, Kambo said.

“We will get to the bottom of this and charge those responsible,” he said.

Yabe and his gang are allegedly involved in a series of crimes, including rapes, robberies, murders and destruction of properties, Kambo said.

He said he was concerned with the cost incurred by the Barrick Mine to transport Yabe from Tari to Porgera and then to Port Moresby.

“He is a high-risk suspect,” Kambo said.

Kambo is appealing to the public to come forward with information to recapture the suspect.