[ 2012-06-20 ]

James Camp prisoners sought cover; they did not escape
Prison officials at James Camp prison claim the
ten prisoners who left the custody of the prison
did not escape but rather took cover after the
wall fencing the prison was broken down by a
private developer.

The Chief Public Relations Officer of the Prisons
Service, ASP Courage Atsem, said the unusual noise
from the earth moving equipment which broke the
wall scared the prisoners and made them run for
cover.

All the ten prisoners who were initially reported
to have escaped from the prison have voluntarily
returned, he said.

An officer at the Prisons Service Legal Department
Supt. Kwesi Adjei had early on told Joy News four
of the ten prisoners were re-arrested after they
escaped, hoping the other six will be arrested in
no time.

But Courage Atsem told Joy News the initial
concerns that the prisoners escaped were wrong.

He explained the recent airplane disaster in Accra
which claimed the lives of passengers in a 207
vehicle was fresh in their minds which made them
run on hearing the sound of the tumbling wall.

He told Joy News the inmates were low risk
prisoners who have served a greater part of their
sentences.

The prison wall was broken down by a private
developer, Ivy Frances Anning who is in a legal
tussle with the James Camp prison over the land on
which the prison is situated.

According to Prison officials, Frances Anning did
not give them any notice before breaking down the
walls of the prison.

She had a ruling from a court which gave her the
right to demolish the walls of the prison.

Courage Atsem said the police are investigating
the matter. Four persons said to have broken down
the walls have been granted bail but with no
charges.

Source - MyjoyOnline

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