In February of 2022, the Ombudsman Commission received a complaint from a widow of a former Correctional Services officer who served at Kerevat Correctional Facility in East New Britain Province.
The widow alleged that she was not reimbursed personal monies that she used to pay for repatriation expenses when her husband passed away. The Widow’s late husband served at the PNG Correctional Services in Kerevat until his passing.
The Kerevat Jail Commander assured the widow that PNG Correctional Services would reimburse any costs incurred while repatriating her family’s possessions to her home province in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. All funeral expenses were met by the PNG Correctional Services
A total of K3,530.10 was incurred during the repatriation exercise from Buka to Haisi in the Siwai District of South Bougainville, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, when her husband passed away. The repatriation charges were referred to the PNG Correctional Services headquarters however no attempts were made to settle the matter.
When the complaint was lodged with the Ombudsman Commission, it referred to the complaint to the appropriate Correctional Services personal and the Jail Commander. A resolution was reached and the widow was paid her K3,530.10.
The widow was grateful to the Commission for assisting her.