‘Forgotten detainees’ return to court

Psychiatric detainees who were brought to Port Moresby for treatment at the Laloki Psychiatric hospital but ended up at Bomana returned to the National Court today.

A total of 22 detainees including two females appeared in court with their three in-mate caretakers and officers from the Correctional Service before Justice Panuel Mogish.

The matter was adjourned from last week Thursday for their lawyers from the Public Solicitors office to file individual affidavits after their records were lost.

The forgotten detainees as described by Justice Mogish include convicts, detainees still undergoing treatment and detainees who already completed treatment but awaiting repatriation to their home provinces.

Most have been charged, convicted and sentenced to Laloki for treatment after they were found being in possession of banned substances.

In this case Marijuana.

 They are from Port Moresby, Wabag, Mt Hagen, Tabubil, Kerevat, Kavieng, Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Pogera, Alotau and Vanimo.

All were brought to Laloki for treatment between 2010 and this year, however, their treatment files were lost in the system.

Six of the 22 detainees were brought to Bomana.

However, they are yet to commence treatment at the Laloki Psychiatric hospital.

Seven have undergone treatment and have been declared fit to return to their provincial towns but are awaiting repatriation exercise by the Correctional Service.

Two have been identified relapse cases that will need re-admittance at Laloki while another two are still undergoing treatment.

 Three have served time in jail and completed treatment.

Justice Mogish ordered for the Correction Service to calculate time served and inform the court of their status when the matter returns on Friday.

 He also ordered for the Assistant Commissioner Director Finance of Correctional Service to appear in court on Friday and inform the court on the financial status and repatriation exercise of the detainees

     

Author: 
Sally Pokiton