Media Press Release

Correctional Service Minister Chris Nangoi has confirmed that a report was already compiled following an investigation into reports raised on social media of inmates who were supposed to be admitted to the Port Moresby General Hospital but seen roaming around Port Moresby.

Minister Nangoi says he has received the report from the Correctional Service Commissioner Stephen Pokanis after the completion of the investigation into the matter by the Acting Commanding Officer for Bomana Correctional Institute Superintendant Yelly Oiufa and will be sending it to the Minister for Police Bryan Kramer.

The complaint was raised by relatives of a deceased female against a detainee namely Robert Mai – a lawyer by profession who is currently in custody at the Bomana Correctional Institution and the post went viral on social media and had caught the attention of the CS Management as well.

Minister Nangoi says, in a quick response to that report, the detainee was removed from the hospital and an investigation was carried out.

He assures the family of the deceased that the detainee is back in custody.

Meantime CS Commissioner Pokanis says such complaints are common and encourage such complaints to come to him directly as the Commissioner so that proper filtering and administrative investigations can be done if cases are serious and it will allow a more objective response that is disseminated in a more official manner.