A female detainee in Madang is on the run after escaping from Beon prison last Friday.
The escapee, 34-year-old Philomena Tisivua of mixed East Sepik and New Ireland was locked up four months ago for stealing and is awaiting court when she made her escape.
Beon Prison Commander Jackson Gubag said in his 40 years of service, this is the first time a female has escaped from his prison.
“At around 8am, the escapee was cleaning their prison compound and went over to dispose the rubbish at the prison dumpsite with three other female inmates, only the three female inmates returned except her,” said Gubag.
He said they are currently investigating the matter, and they will be questioning the female guards on duty and also go through the visitor’s logbook to see who visited the escapee in the past couple of weeks as they may possibly aided her escape.
According to Gubag, Tisivua was locked up for allegedly stealing more than K100,000 from her employee, 4-10 Investment. She was given K160,000 to deposit at the bank but she only deposited only K57,000 and escaped with the rest of the money. She got on a PMV bus headed for Lae that day, bought all the seats and alcohol for the bus crew and they went to Lae to her husband.
They bought a second-hand CR-V vehicle and went to Goroka. They were caught by police in Goroka and were transported down Madang, but the husband escaped along the highway after lying to relieve himself in the bush.
Gubag spoke with manager of 4-10 Investment who gave details of the escapee and offered to help CS officers in the search and capture of Tisivua.
“This is not the first she has done that, she has a record of stealing from her past employers,” said Gubag.
The police and Madang community have been made aware of her escape and are encouraged to help report to police and CS officers if they have information about the female escapee’s whereabouts.