Mutzing is a government station with the only police station between Lae, the Eastern Highlands and Ramu Highway. For a long time, it has suffered due to limited manpower and resources.
The stations contained the only lock up along this stretch of the highway.
In the early hours of of this morning, this vital government asset was destroyed in a fire.
While the local police won’t say what happened and how the fire started. It is understood, the prisoner may have been left unattended while the fire started.
Eye witnesses who didn’t want to talk on camera reported that the prisoner who was in the the cell the day before was heard calling for help.
According to eye witnesses, nearby residents attempted to break open the brick wall but were not able to open the wall in time.
By the time they succeeded, the prisoner was already dead.
Attempts made to get comments from the Provincial Police Commander Chief Superintendent, Augustine Wampe, were unsuccessful.