ESCAPEE RECAPTURED IN MADANG

Kiura Yarti, a 52-year-old former police officer from Koropak village, was recaptured on Karkar Island after escaping from Beon Correctional Institution.

He had been serving a 32-year sentence for willful murder when he managed to flee on March 27, 2024. Yarti’s escape was executed under the pretense of harvesting food from the prison garden, which allowed him to exploit the prison’s security measures.

His background as a police officer in Madang Province before committing the murder offense made him particularly dangerous. This experience likely equipped him with skills and knowledge that enabled him to evade capture for an extended period, raising concerns about his potential threat to local communities on Karkar Island. Police had received multiple reports of his presence and potential danger, leading to heightened efforts to locate him.

After several unsuccessful attempts to capture him, fresh intelligence finally led the authorities to discover that Yarti had traveled from Bagbag Island to Karkar Island by boat. Acting on this information, police utilized an unmarked vehicle to maintain a low profile while tracking him down. The turning point in the case occurred on January 31, 2025, when officers stopped a PMV truck and found Yarti among the passengers.

Following his arrest, he was taken into custody and subsequently transferred to Jomba Police Station in Madang town on February 1. Yarti will be returned to Beon Correctional Institution to complete his sentence, alleviating community fears about his presence on the island.

In light of Yarti’s recapture, Madang Provincial Police Commander, Acting Superintendent Robert Baim, made a public appeal to others who may be on the run. He urged them to come forward, be processed, and finish their terms, emphasizing the importance of reintegrating into society and living a normal life.

Baim’s statement highlights a broader commitment to addressing issues of crime and rehabilitation in the community, aiming to encourage those in similar situations to seek a lawful path forward.