20 prisoners break-out of Lae Central Police Station cell, one recaptured

A total of 20 prisoners [male] escaped from the Lae Central police station cells after cutting an opening on the steel wire, a very narrow gap in between two steel bars on the side window of cell 2 and escaped through it.

Upon realization the Lae police under the Lae Metropolitan Command responded. Patrolling on foot, Charlie 102 and Alpha 103 managed to recapture only one of the escapees at the new temporary market area at down town, with the other 19 on running free.

According to the Lae Metropolitan Commander, Chief Superintendent Chris Kunyanban, the escapees used a hacksaw that was smuggled in to cut through the steel wires, that eventually gave way and created an opening for them to wriggle through and narrowly make their escape.

“The hacksaw was smuggled into the cell and it cannot be big. It can be very small and attached to the end of a toothbrush or a small stick and used,” he said.

The Lae Metro police boss went on to point out, that the steel wires were being sawed by that hacksaw over a period of time until it eventually broke away.

“They made their escape between 12midnight and 2 o’clock this morning, right when the officers on duty were changing shifts. We check the cells after every 2 hours and those who escaped have clearly studied, and taken those 2 hourly time intervals into account to make their escape,” he said.

He went on to state, that the town cells hold persons charged with minor crimes under the summary offences, but there may be one or two notorious or hardcore criminals among these escapees which the investigators will reveal.

The Lae police boss said, that once all information are verified and disclosed, his office will release them to the police hierarchy and to the public for their consumption and safety.