Judy Tara

Outgoing commander highlights Buimo issues

Retired Buimo commanding officer, Chief Superintendent Judy Masani Tara, highlighted some of the challenges she faced during her tenure.

The Buimo Correctional Institute in Lae holds the largest number of detainee population in the country. It held over 1,000 prisoners in December 2019 until COVID-19 restrictions brought the number down to 730 as inmates were distributed to other prisons in the Highlands and Madang.

Amane is new Buimo Jail Commander

Superintendent Judy Tara who was the jail commander when the jail breakout occurred is been suspended pending an investigation into the incident.

A police team with officers from the CS Headquarters are also on ground to go over the matter.

The Correctional Service Acting Comissioner Bernard Nepo has confirmed as of this afternoon that there are 64 Buimo escapees still at large.

Initially there were 94 escapees; however, 30 have been recaptured.

Of the 30, 12 are confirmed dead while 18 have been seriously wounded.