By Martha Louis – EMTV News, Madang
A total of seven prisoners at the Boram Correctional Facility in Wewak, East Sepik Province, have escaped following food shortages at the facility. It is still not clear if the prisoners are remandees or detainees.
Sources told EMTV News-Madang, the inmates were without food since May 17th to May 28th. The prisoners were released to go out and look for their own food and return, however, seven of them escaped. On Sunday (May 27), at least 32 high-risk prisoners including remandees went out to get their own food. From the total, two escaped however, it is still not clear if the two escapees are detainees or remandees.
Due to food shortage experienced, inmates were demanding Correctional Officers to release them so they could find food for themselves. Yesterday, due to their demands, the CS Officers released the inmates. This has caused a security threat. While demand for food continues to increase, the Boram CS facility has taken food rations at the cost of K5,000 on credit basis for the inmates from Garamut Wholesale, now totalling to K15,000.
