Woman’s claim ‘false’

A COURT has been told that a woman’s claim that she had been unlawfully detained for allegedly aiding her son to escape from lawful custody was false.
Yuana James had told The National at the Lakiemata prison in Kimbe last month that she was being detained as a punishment because police could not find her son had escape from the Kimbe police station cell. Resident judge Justice Ellenas Batari summoned a special court sitting in Kimbe last weekend to verify James’ claim.
Justice Batari was told that Yuana had already appeared in the Magistrate Court on May 13 and remanded in custody for the next hearing on June 14.
She is facing a charge of bribing a police officer to release her son Nanabos Michael James from the cell. He was facing a rape charge.
Outside court, Assistant Registrar Diddly Aheng said the newspaper report should have been verified with the police before it was published.
Correctional Services Acting Commissioner Stephen Pokanis had also rejected Yuana James’ claim saying prison authorities only detained people convicted or remanded by the courts.
Provincial Police Commander Superintendent John Midi said the woman was arrested, charged and taken to Lakiemata because she had allegedly given money to a police officer to release her son from the cell.
Midi said the police officer was also arrested and charged.