Dr Rongap’s killer shot dead in Buimo breakout

News that matters in Papua New Guinea

 Naya, then only 22, was captured for shooting and killing Angau Memorial Hospital’s Dr Rongap in 2016. Above: At 25, Naya was shot dead in his third attempt to escape from custody in Buimo prison where he was serving 35 years jail for the murder.

Dr Rongap’s killer shot dead in Buimo prison mass breakout

PORT MORESBY: The man (David Naya, 25) who shot and killed Angau Memorial Hospital’s Dr Alphonse Rongap on June 25, 2016, in Lae, was shot dead in a mass Buimo prison breakout on Sunday (Jan 19, 2020).

It was Naya’s third attempt to escape from custody while serving a 35-year jail sentence. He was only 22 when he committed the murder.

In the breakout, a prison warden was also killed but it was not immediately revealed by prison and police authorities how he was killed.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) Correctional Service wardens and officers, police andf Igam’s PNG Defence Force soldiers have mounted a manhunt for 16 fugitives in Lae, Morobe and the region.

Among the fugitives are two murderers.

PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below details of the breakout as reported by The National:

Killer shot dead

January 21, 2020The NationalMain Stories

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The Buimo jail in Lae.

CONVICTED killer David Naya, 25, who had escaped from custody twice was shot dead in his third attempt to flee during a mass prison breakout on Sunday.
A prison warden was also killed in the incident and Papua New Guinea (PNG) Correctional Service (CS) wardens and officers, police and Igam’s PNG Defence Force have mounted a manhunt for 16 fugitives.
Lae Met Supt Chief Insp Chris Kunyanban said the men on the run are:

• CARL Arua Benny, 31, Central-Chimbu lives at Papua Compound (wilful murder);
• DOUGLAS John Kauke, 20, Bombar-Mumeng, lives at Madang Compound (rape);
• JAYSON Jawe Nogoti, 29, Rambau in Chuave, Chimbu, lives at Salamanda (armed robbery);
• NENRY Moses Laiko, Mei, Kerema, lives at West Taraka (armed robbery);
• JERRY Peter Tati, 31, Kalasa in Sialum, Tewae-Siassi, lives at Papua Compound (armed robbery);
• ISSAC Kumewo, 25, Yunzaing, Finschhafen, lives at As Mambu, Back Road, (armed robbery);
• JAMES Philip, 23, Aguwe, Yangoru, ESP, lives at Papua Compound (possession of weapon);
• DIDIMAS Agogo, 26, Nakaiya, Garaina, Bulolo (armed robbery);
• ERICK Hoseah, 26, Simbang, Finschhafen (armed robbery);
• STANLEY Edward, 25, Terepaiya, Komo, SHP, lives at Busu Mountain (possession of weapon);
• VINCENT Tivilari, 26, Aika, Sohe, Northern, lives at Papua Compound (armed robbery);
• THOMAS Saw Panda, 22, Sakarang, Nawae (murder);
• GEDION Honguru, 19, Buingim, Labuta, Nawaeb, lives at Kaisa, Bumayong, (possession of ammunition);
• LUTHER Ronu, 29, Uruo, Finschhafen, lives at Falcon Street, Cassowary Road (armed robbery);
• MATO Ati, 30, Finschhafen, lives at LBM, Busu (possession of weapon); and
• YATA Asio, adult male from Maiama, Morobe patrol post (sea piracy).

He said the prisoners were in the reception area during visitation hours at about 10am with relatives when they fled. Police and CS officers have yet to release details how the warden was killed during the breakout.
The warden was among 12 probationary CS wardens posted to Buimo two years ago.
Chief Insp Kunyanban said: “We are working round the clock to hunt down the fugitives comprising of 15 convicts and one remandee. We are also searching suspected hideouts of the fugitives.”
Naya a.k.a ‘Flethet’ was jailed 35 years with hard labour last year for the murder of Angau Memorial Hospital’s Dr Alphonse Rongap.
Naya first escaped while waiting for his trial in 2017 and was recaptured in Wewak after a botched armed robbery. He was hospitalised and escaped again on Dec 25, 2018, and was recaptured in Wewak wharf and transferred to Lae.
The Lae National Court convicted Naya last year for Dr Rongap’s murder.
Among the fugitives are two murderers – Panda serving life imprisonment and Benny serving 45 years.
Northern-end Asst Comm Peter Guinness appealed to Lae people and business communities in Morobe and the region to be more vigilant with the desperate men on the run.
He advised people that if they noticed any suspicious looking people to call the police toll free number 70903300.

Breakout proof Buimo needs help

January 21, 2020The NationalMain Stories

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PAPUA New Guinea’s first mass prison breakout in 2020 in Lae’s Buimo Prison on Sunday confirms the Correctional Services (CS) facility as the worst in the county – as far as frequency in breakouts is concerned.
One prison warden and an inmate, a convicted killer, died in the incident and a joint CS, police and soldiers posse has launched a round-the-clock manhunt for 16 fugitives comprising 15 convicts and a remandee.
Buimo’s infamous record of mass breakouts:

• JULY 2018: Police shot dead four prison inmates, wounding two others and nine escaped;
• DEC 2017: 16 prisoners held a prison warden hostage before fleeing from prison, only four were recaptured;
• MAY 2017: Prison wardens shot dead 17 inmates in a mass breakout at Buimo, recapturing three alive and 57 escaped;
• FEB 2016: Police shot and killed 11 of about 30 prisoners who attacked two prison wardens, wounding 17; and,
• JUNE 2015: 55 prisoners escaped during a heavy downpour, only nine were recaptured.

In the May 2017, tragedy after 17 Buimo inmates were shot dead, Amnesty International’s Pacific researcher Kate Schuetze then told Reuters: “Unfortunately, these incidents, tragic as they are, happen all too frequently in PNG as there is poor accountability with police and security officers.”
In Oct 2018, Buimo commander Felix Namane told The National that chronic manpower shortage as well as the ageing workforce contributed to notorious mass jail breaks, epitomising what is happening at prisons nationwide.
Namane was blunt when addressing CS top brass at the second day an annual activity and implementation plan workshop in Port Moresby.
“For Buimo, the holding capacity is 436, but the prisoners we have now is 1,058,” he said.
“Our current manpower is around 85, of which seven are serving in Finschhafen rural lock-up, so it’s below 80 against 1,058 prisoners.
“Looking at the statistics of prisoners now, not only in Buimo but in other jails throughout the country, most of the prisoners are within the 20 to 35 age group.
“How can you expect a few ageing CS officers to guard a large number of young and energetic prisoners?
“In the event they flee, the ageing officers cannot be able to match the speed of the prisoners.
“This can be seen in the recent escape in Kimbe where prisoners attacked three CS officers, who guarded around 40 young and energetic prisoners on their way to a church service.”
Then acting CS commissioner Stephen Pokanis said according to international standards, the maximum number of inmates for a prison was 300 and the ratio was two prison wardens to one prisoner.
“That is the acceptable international standard but we never follow these standards,” he said, adding that most CS facilities were holding prisoners beyond capacity and were at the same time understaffed.