A/HRC/16/52/Add.5
Matthew Sarufa, aged 36. On 25 December 2000, the police had surrounded his house,
and when he surrendered, he was told to lie face up on the ground. The police then emptied
a full magazine from a semi-automatic rifle on his left leg. He was also shot on the right
leg. He was a “most wanted man” for various crimes. After he was shot, he was taken to the
hospital, where his leg was amputated. His family was prevented from visiting him in the
hospital during the three months he remained there. Due to his disability, he was never
charged. In 2005, he filed a complaint against the state and the two officers he could
identify. The trial was set for 19 April 2010, but it was postponed by the judge.
David Yaro, aged 28, robbed on 3 October 2002 a bank in Boroko. Outside the bank he
was surrounded by police; he surrendered and was shot by the police. He threw his gun
down and they told him to lie on the ground, he know he was going to be shot so he
remained standing and put his arms in the air and the police shot him from 2 meters away.
After 30 minutes he was taken to hospital. He received poor medical care, the doctor
removed muscle from his thigh to fix the lower leg but it made his condition worse, the leg
became numb and it had to be amputated from the knee down. In 2008 he went to register a
complaint against the police for excessive use of force as he had surrendered and they shot
him. On Friday he went to court and has until 16 July to prepare his case file. In 1997 he
was involved in a robbery on a restaurant. (Apparently the police commissioner’s son was
also involved in the robbery).There was a car chase by the police. Four were killed. He was
shot in the back and had an exit wound in the stomach. He saw the police surrounding the
getaway car and threw the money to the on looking crowd as they came in he was able to
make an escape. The driver of the car also escaped, however two years later he was caught
in Popendetta doing another robbery; allegedly that time the police amputated his arms and
legs and threw him overboard.
Bomana Correctional Facility, Port Moresby
Visited on 16 May 2010 (2nd visit)
The Special Rapporteur was received by Superintendant Kiddy Keko. He complained about
the lack of officers (3 for 400 detainees). He stated that the detainees were not rebellious
but that they sometimes suffered ill treatment, due to the harsh conditions for both the
detainees and the officers. When a detainee complains about an officer, he does it to the
police. However, he acknowledged that it is not very effective.
General information
Maximum Security Wing
24 male detainees, all escapees, are held here under high surveillance. The building is new
and seems much more secure than the other buildings in the complex. The Supervisor,
Damian Ayebaibai, received the Special Rapporteur and was very cooperative. The
Maximum Security Wing is divided into 4 sections: D is a punishment block where nobody
is presently kept. C is the section for detainees who escaped and were caught again;
presently there are two detainees there. B is for escapees who behave well and A is the
section where prisoners who will soon be transferred to the ordinary (open) regime are held.
Each detainee was kept in a single cell, but they can see and speak to each other. The four
sections are separated by locked doors. Section A is the closest to the door and has some
daylight.
During a collective interview, one of the detainees, William Kapris, gave the Special
Rapporteur a written statement with complaints about the prison conditions on behalf of all
detainees. A number of detainees have serious injuries. During the collective interview,
there are complaints about the insufficient quantity and poor quality of the food.
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