15 Jan 2010

PNG PM admits jail problems after Kapris escape

3:59 pm on 15 January 2010

Papua New Guinea's prime minister, Sir Michael Somare, has admitted that the country's correctional service command has lost control.

This follows last Tuesday's mass jail breakout of the country's 12 toughest criminals, including William Kapris who was PNG's most wanted man for eight years until he was captured in 2008.

Sir Michael says the command is not in control and it's gone a bit loose, but he says it's an internal matter for the correctional services.

The Correctional Services Commissioner, Richard Sikani, says the department lacks the funding to do its job.

He says he is short of manpower and many of the jails were built in the 1950s.