Manus

Prison escapees on sex crimes recaptured

A total of five arrests were made for escapees from the Lorengau Correctional Service last week and charged for escape.

The lack of manpower, rundown facilities and overcrowding of prisoners are among many issues faced at this correctional institute, which needs the urgent attention of the CS management, even for a small province like Manus.

The following were recaptured last week:

Manus refugee centre finally closes

All contracts to service providers on the island have also been terminated as of September 1st.

Minister for Immigration and Border Security, Petrus Thomas, announced this, saying it is the most significant milestone to date in ending regional processing in Manus Province, with the termination of lead Australian Government service provider on 1 September 2019.

11yo in hospital after alleged pack rape

Manus Police picked up two suspected perpetrators, aged 28 and 31 respectively, from Korojih village, located in the South coast of Manus in the Pobuma LLG.

Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, said the incident took place on Saturday morning where the two men allegedly threatened the girl with a kitchen knife, tied a laplap around her face and took her into a nearby bush where they took turns sexually penetrating her.

More refugees leave PNG shores

Minister for Immigration and Border Security, Petrus Thomas, said resettlement is a key step in the lives of refugees and one of the three durable solutions which are promoted and recognized by the UNHCR.

Minister Petrus Thomas said the departure of this latest group was a significant milestone in delivering on the expectations of Prime Minister James Marape that the regional processing caseload be resolved quickly.

The departure of the nine individuals now sees a total of 269 refugees depart PNG for resettlement in the United States.

Suspect in EC office break-in apprehended

Manus provincial police commander (PPC), Chief Inspector David Yapu, said the suspect was picked up last Friday, July 5th, at the Ward 5 market in Lorengau, where he was later charged.

Frustrated at the incident of June 28th, PPC Yapu said this is the fourth time the PNG Electoral Commission office was broken into.

He said people must respect this office as they are ready to go out and deliver the LLG Elections for the people of Manus to elect their leaders for their ward level.

Aussie man facing sex charges to return to court

A ruling is expected on whether there is sufficient evidence to commit him to stand trial at the National Court.

Charged with two counts of sexual touching, Terry Shane Geddes of Woodside, Brisbane, appeared at the Lorengau Committal Court last week, where submissions were presented to the presiding magistrate, Ben Kome.

The defendant is on K15,000 National Court bail and should return to court on 17th June. 

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Church elder arrested

The 56-year-old church elder from one of the mainline churches is alleged to have ‘sexually touched’ a 12-year-old victim on two occasions.

The man from the Balopa LLG allegedly sexually touched the minor in February 2014 and in April 18 this year.

PPC Manus Chief Inspector David Yapu said such an incident involving a church elder is immoral and against church values, bringing a bad image to the church.

High speed internet access for Manus

This will be facilitated in the first quarter of 2020 by PNG DATACO LIMITED (DataCo), the state-owned backbone ICT provider.

Manus is currently serviced by satellite providers including Telikom, Digicel and bmobile.

However, access, speed, cost and availability of satellite services has left no options for the people of Manus that will transform and propel the island community into the digital age.

Missing 4yo’s body retrieved

The four-year-old’s body was found on Sunday as it drifted ashore at the Naval base beach at Lombrum.

Manus Provincial Police Commander, chief inspector David Yapu, said all missing bodies have now been retrieved and are at the Lorengau Morgue.

The victims were among 30 passengers travelling on a 23-foot, 60 horse powered boat to a funeral when the boat capsized due to strong winds and rough seas near Pityluh Island.

Child still missing after boating mishap

The overloaded boat, which included four other children and 25 adults, was on its way to a funeral when it encountered strong winds and rough sea.

Police in Manus say the 23 foot-60 horse powered engine left Lorengau with other boats on Thursday when they encountered strong winds and rain.

The overloaded boat with 30 passengers was nearing Pityluh Island, which is about 10 minutes out of Lorengau, when they capsized.

Most of the passengers managed to hold onto the side of the boat and drifted for half-an-hour before they were rescued by another boat from Pityluh.