Assistant Correctional Services Commissioner, Henry Wavik, has raised concerns regarding the arrangement of inmates from the Bomana Prison travelling to receive medical care at the Port Moresby General Hospital.
The comments come after two inmates escaped from the hospital while receiving medical treatment.
“In May this year, one inmate had escaped. He was outside the parking area when some people picked him up after holding up the guard that was looking after him,” Assistant Commissioner Wavik said.
He added that Bomana has a medical facility but medical officers had stopped going there to treat sick or injured inmates.
This leaves the wardens with no choice but to transport the inmates to Port Moresby General Hospital for medical help.
While this is seen as the fundamental duty of correctional officers, it is a risky job, as the chances of inmates escaping are very high.
Wavik said the CS department is still in dialogue with the Board of POMGEN, to establish a set-up that will minimise the chances of inmates escaping.
