Alvin Bhola, who was on the run since August 25, 2007 when he and 17 other inmates broke out of the New Amsterdam prison was recaptured at around 12:30 am yesterday at a house at Number 69 Village, Corentyne.
He was reportedly at the back of the yard while the owner was in front when police, who had received information on his whereabouts, swooped down and arrested him.
Police sources told this newspaper that the man who apparently had nowhere to run surrendered willingly after he realized he was cornered. Apart from his hair being longer, his appearance had not changed much, police said.
A search was also conducted in the house but investigators did not find anything incriminating even though the man was said to be “well-armed.”
Bhola who was remanded to prison on a charge of carnal knowledge had eluded capture along with Troy Benn and Anthony Campbell. Police are still on the hunt for Benn and Campbell.
Eleven prisoners were subsequently recaptured following the daring break-out and charged with escaping from lawful custody. Four others, Carlos King, Neville Williams and Arvendra Deonarine were shot dead two days later when police confronted them along with Jermaine Brown in an abandoned house in NA.
Brown sustained injuries and was admitted a patient at the NA Hospital. He was immediately charged with escaping from lawful custody upon his release from the institution.
Additionally he was charged with being in possession of an unlicensed
.32 firearm, five spent shells and five live rounds. Reports are that the firearm and ammunition were used in the confrontation with police.
Meanwhile, police are still to recapture two other prisoners, Samuel Fable and Derrick Busgit who had escaped in March 2007. The two men staged a daring escape along with a third prisoner, Gavin Balkissoon in the vicinity of the Canje Bridge.
Balkissoon who was later turned over to the police was sentenced to one-year imprisonment on the escape charge.