for Safebreakers

Ten Years’ Hard Labour for Safebreakers Convicted Papuans Then Break Gaol

From Our Own Correspondent

Pt. Moresby, Feb. 22.

IN the Central Court on February 17, before His Honour Mr. Justice Gore, the trial took place of two Motu Motu natives (Gulf Division), Kalo and Apa, who were charged with entering the Papuan Govern ment’s station at Rigo and stealing the sum of £129.

Both the accused were found guilty and were sentenced each to a term of ten years’ imprisonment with hard labour. In pronouncing sentence, Mr. Justice Gore stated that the crime was the most serious case of its kind that had occurred in the Territory.

As was previously reported, during the night of November 12 the Rigo office was broken into. The safe was carried away and hacked open with an axe. Later the empty safe was found in a creek nearby.

The detention of the two natives was due in a large measure to the investigations of Sergeant Bagita, who was specially de tailed to work on the case, and who pro ceeded immediately to Rigo, upon the report of the theft.

A small amount of money, including an identified £1 note, was subsequently found planted in a tin at Koki. There still re mained the large sum of £124 to be re covered.

On Friday, February 21, the two prison ers, Kalo and Apa, who were detailed for

prison road work in Port Moresby, escaped from the prison gang. An extended search for the prisoners is at present being made.

The warden in charge of the gang has been dismissed.

The native Kalo is a well-known char acter in Papua, and was formerly a mem ber of the Armed Native Constabulary. He recently served a sentence for shooting dead his police companion, when acting as escort for the overland mail to Kokoda.