5 Jul 2013

Jail commander in PNG stood down after murderer let out

3:40 pm on 5 July 2013

Papua New Guinea's biggest jail, the Bomana Correctional Institute, will have a new commander after the current commander was stood down for allowing a prisoner to leave the facility.

The man let out was the former head of PNG's Climate Change office, Theo Yasause, who is serving a 30-year sentence for murder.

Chief superintendent Joe Jako is to be replaced by Kiddy Keko who is currently in charge of Kerevat Jail in East New Britain.

The release of the prisoner irked prime minister Peter O'Neill who says law and order issues remain one of the greatest impediments to doing business in PNG and such reports do not help the cause.

He says this is the kind of behaviour that is bringing the country down.