24 May 2012

Vanuatu escapees get ultimatum to surrender

1:47 pm on 24 May 2012

Vanuatu's Minister of Internal Affairs, George Wells, has given the six remaining high risk prisoners on the run in Efate until midday Saturday to surrender.

The police think a group of six prisoners could be behind the killing of an elderly foreign couple and a number of break ins in and around Port Vila.

The Minister has warned the prisoners not to surrender through the chiefs, church leaders or families, saying anyone that brings them to the police station will also be arrested.

The Daily Post Newspaper says the Minister has authorised Police and the Vanuatu Mobile Force to use live bullets where necessary especially since the prisoners are reported to be armed.

Meanwhile, the Council of Chiefs of Efate and the Port Vila Town Council of Chiefs have jointly issued a statement, urging the six escapees to surrender by tomorrow.