The Joint Services yesterday afternoon captured prison inmates Sean Hopkinson and Carlton Sampson who had escaped from the Mazaruni Prison on Sunday.
According to a release from the police, they apprehended the duo in a swampy area at Sherima, Essequibo River around 3.15 pm yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Prison Service said in a press statement last evening that the circumstances leading to the escape would be fully investigated and appropriate security and disciplinary actions taken.
“The Prisons Directorate and by extension the Ministry of Home Affairs would like to applaud the Joint Services’ search teams for their resilience, professionalism and patience exhibited in the pursuit and recapture of the two inmates,” the prison service said.
Reports out of Bartica are that the men were seen in the area close to the Sherima Crossing at the Essequibo River by persons traversing the roadway which leads to the crossing and a report was subsequently made at a nearby police outpost.
The police rushed to the area and apprehended the duo.
They men were making attempts to reach the coastland, a law enforcement source at Bartica noted yesterday. They were taken to the Bartica Police Station initially and a large crowd gathered at the ferry stelling to see them.
Crime Chief Seelall Persaud told Stabroek News on Tuesday that based on information gleaned from investigations, the men were playing football just before they went missing.
Reports are that the men left the facility with little or no security present and it took hours before the prison warders realised that they were missing.
Hopkinson, 27, of Blue Berry Hill, Linden and Sampson, 26, of Crane, West Coast Demerara (WCD) were serving time for robbery under arms and other offences.
Hopkinson was serving concurrent three-year sentences for robbery under arms, unlawful possession of firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. Sampson was serving sentences for robbery under arms and escape from lawful custody.
In September 2008, Sampson had escaped from the Grove Police Station on the East Bank Demerara (EBD) and a few days later he was shot in his thigh during a confrontation with the police. The man’s injury has resulted in him walking with a limp, a police source noted on Monday.
Persaud told Stabroek News on Tuesday that the Mazaruni Prison is affected severely by a staff shortage and he noted that this may have played a role in Sunday’s escape of the prisoners.
A source close to the prison told Stabroek News that staff members have been working overtime within the past several months because of the staff shortage. He said that this has proven difficult for prison officers to carry out their duties effectively since the prison population has grown.
This newspaper was told by a staff member attached to the Mazaruni Prison yesterday that prisoners have been complaining repeatedly over the years about the food they are served.
He added that the produce which the prison reaps from the farms at Mazaruni is insufficient to feed the population.
The two prisoners are currently secured back at the Mazaruni Prison and will be prosecuted for escaping lawful custody.
