CS: Escape a result of lax in security systems

 PRISON authorities have blamed a lax in the security system at Bomana Prison for the escape of William Kapris and two others on Tuesday.

The other two are Raphael Walimini and Michael Warangu. The latter was pronounced dead yesterday after he was shot.

Correctional Service Commissioner Martin Balthazar told reporters yesterday that a female prison nurse was being held in police custody for questioning over the escape.

He said the female warden did not act alone and that the escape was planned and premeditated by a network of corrupt prison officers working with Kapris’ accomplices.

“Police, CS officers and Defence are now conducting surveillance at key points on the main highways.

“The three escapees are highly armed and dangerous and have a hostage with them – a security guard with NARI from the Milne Bay province.”

It is believed that Kapris, Walimini and Warangu left their high-security dormitory at 1.30pm on Tuesday and were taken to the clinic where the female officer kept them for exactly an hour.

Certain procedures for high-risk prisoners leaving their cells including an announcement through a loud hailer alerting CIS officers on guard that Kapris was out of his dormitory were not followed.

The three prisoners went through a check-point outside their dorm gate and were not carrying anything. It is believed that the firearms they used to take hostage a CS male orderly who went to check on them were smuggled in by the nurse.

“The female CS nurse, who is the major suspect, was the trafficker of the firearms.  The clues are leading to the evidence that the nurse has been attempting to use CS executives to grant a “Leave of Absence” to Kapris which was refused by the Deputy Commissioner Operations,” said Balthazar.

He said the three prisoners then walked with the hostage at gunpoint from the clinic area to Gate 24 (main gate). An armed CS officer and another were caught by surprise,and unable to react fearing an exchange of fire as well as fearing for their lives and the safety of the hostage. 

One of the escapees then climbed over the eight-meter high security fence to unlock the main gate.