The last 18 asylum seekers held at the Bomana immigration detention centre in Papua New Guinea have been released.
Bomana Correctional Facility, Papua New Guinea Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
Fifty-two men were detained at the Australian built centre in August, when they and about 200 refugees were transferred to Port Moresby from Manus Island.
All were imprisoned on the island in 2013 for seeking refuge in Australia.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of PNG has alleged the asylum seekers suffered torturous conditions at Bomana.
Finally 18 people who were in Bomana prison released today. Australia and PNG governments imprisoned 52 innocent refugees in Bomana prison five months ago, most of them were released later and now the remainder.#auspol
— Behrouz Boochani (@BehrouzBoochani) January 23, 2020
The Conference said men were previously released after agreeing to be repatriated to the countries they fled.
A refugee in Port Moresby said most of the 18 were from Iran.
Shaminda Kanapathi said they were being accommodated by Australia with others released from Bomana in an upmarket Port Moresby hotel.
He said they had lost a lot of weight during their incarceration and their mental and physical health had deteriorated.
I met with some of the guys who were released today from #Bomana Detention Centre. They have lost a lot of weight and their mental and physical health has significantly deteriorated #auspol @NickMcKim @drkerrynphelps
— Shamindan (@Shamindan1) January 23, 2020
