10 Escape From Custody

Tema, Oct 25, Graphic -- Ten remand suspects who were in custody at the Tema Community Two Police Station last Saturday escaped from lawful custody between the hours of 3a.m. and 4 a.m.

No arrests have so far been made of the escapees, who are all males.

The Police Administration has since given the two police officers (names withheld) who were on duty at the time of the escape up to 10 days to apprehend the suspects.

The administration has further detailed officials of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to assist in arresting the suspects who have escaped.

In an interview in Accra yesterday, the Tema Regional Police Commander, Mrs Agnes Sika Nartey, confirmed the escape but declined to mention the names of the suspects for security reasons. She stated that disciplinary action would be taken against the police officers who were on duty, even if all the 10 prisoners were arrested.

She described their offence as ?major?, pointing out that the administration was treating the matter as such.

Narrating the circumstances leading to the escape to the Daily Graphic, Mrs Nartey said the police on duty went to inspect suspects who were then in two separate cells and realised that one of the cells was empty. According to her, the total number of prisoners in the two cells was 32.

She said all the 10 escapees, who were in a single cell, had destroyed some of the iron bars fitted into the concrete wall in the cells, thus creating an escape route. ?After a thorough inspection of the cells, we have realised that some of the iron rods had not been properly fitted into the concrete wall,? Mrs Nartey said.

She reminded the public that it was an offence to harbour a criminal adding ?Your efforts and co-operation are much needed to apprehend the remand suspects.?Mrs Nartey urged the general public not to panic with regard to the escape, adding, ?We hope to apprehend all of them in no time.?