3 dead while two still on the run in Baisu prison escape
Three National Court remandees are dead, five are under heavy police guard at the Mt Hagen Provincial Specialist Hospital with serious injuries, and two remain on the run following a dramatic prison breakout at Baisu Correctional Institution in Western Highlands on Sunday.
Western Highlands Provincial Police Commander Chief Superintendent John Sagom said 10 National Court remandees escaped during the prison's Sunday visiting hours between 1 and 2 pm taking advantage of the movement of visitors to flee the prison camp.
Police and Correctional Service officers immediately launched a joint operation, with reinforcements from Mt Hagen responding to assist officers at Baisu.
PPC Sagom said five escapees were recaptured after sustaining serious injuries and are now receiving treatment at Mt Hagen Provincial Specialist Hospital under tight security.
He confirmed that another three escapees died from injuries, although the exact cause of their deaths is yet to be determined.
"The Criminal Investigation Division [CID] from Mt Hagen Police Station has taken over the investigation to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths," Sagom said.
He said the remaining two escapees are still at large, and police have launched search operations to locate and arrest them.
According to PPC Sagom, all 10 escapees were National Court remandees facing serious criminal charges.
"Seven were on remand for wilful murder, two for armed robbery, and one for rape," he said.
Sagom described the incident as a serious security breach and said a full police investigation has been launched to determine how the prisoners managed to escape in broad daylight during official visiting hours.
"I have deployed a police investigation team to Baisu to establish the cause of the breakout and to determine why such an incident occurred during visiting hours in broad daylight," PPC Sagom said.
Police are working closely with the Correctional Service as investigations continue, while security has been tightened at the prison and around Mt Hagen Hospital where the five injured remandees remain under armed guard.
The Western Highlands Police Chief is appealing to the public not to approach the remaining escapees but to report any information on their whereabouts to the police immediately.
Meantime CS Commissioner Noel Sarei has confirmed that the Correctional Service has instituted investigations with the Baisu prison placed on full alert.
