Ten prison escapees recaptured [1]
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 - 20:22. Updated on Friday, September 12, 2014 - 10:00.
Nine of the 10 male prisoners who escaped from the Hu'atolitoli Prison on Saturday night, November 21 were recaptured by police within seven hours and the tenth later the same day.
Police Commander Chris Kelley in his Weekly Crime Report this morning confirmed that nine prisoners were located and arrested in Lomaiviti at 1:30am Sunday, November 22 and a tenth prisoner was arrested in the Eastern District on the same day.
On Saturday night at 6:46pm police were called to Hu'atolitoli Prison following a confrontational incident between a prison warden and prisoner earlier in the evening.
During the confrontation, nine prisoners escaped leaving behind smashed windows and other minor damages. A tenth prisoner also took advantage of the situation and escaped but went in a different direction to the other nine prisoners.
The Commander confirmed the prisoners are serving time for serious offending ranging from housebreaking, violence and wilful damage.
He said the Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the breakout and were not aware of any other offences committed during the prisoners' seven hours of freedom.
He added that the nine prisoners gave themselves up to police without any resistance.
"I am very satisfied with the quick and efficient response by the police and thank members of the community particularly the Free Wesleyan Church for providing police with information that led to the arrest of the escapees," said Commander Kelly.
Crimes
In the meantime the number of major offences committed last week stood at 53, an increase from the 46 reported the previous week.
Deputy Police Commander Taniela Faletau confirmed the major offences committed included property offences with theft as the leading crime, followed by damage of property, housebreaking and trespassing.
Assault followed suit and included one grievous bodily harm and one bodily harm incident.
Death of boy
He also reported the fatal collision of a bus and van in Vava'u yesterday evening, which resulted in the death of a 15-year-old boy and injured 18 other people.
The fatal accident is the ninth for Tonga in 2009.