(Trinidad Guardian) Two prison officers assigned to the Carrera Island Prison are under investigation after prisoners Steve McGilvery and Leroy “Redo” Mohammed escaped custody on Monday.
McGilvery is serving 30 years with hard labour for the murder while Mohammed was sentenced to ten years for robbery and possession of firearms. McGilvery’s earliest date of discharge is September 14, 2029, while Mohammed’s earliest date of discharge is August 16, 2018.
McGilvery had escaped custody several times before and both men were in the top security section of the prison as they were considered high risk.
The T&T Coast Guard was alerted immediately after their escape and vessels were deployed around 6.47 pm but they men were not found.
In a brief telephone interview yesterday, Commissioner of Prisoners Sterling Stewart denied reports that there was a speed boat waiting for the men.
Noting that the inmates managed to escape over the walls at the back of the ration room, he said: “It’s human error and those culpable will be held accountable. There are procedures to be followed and they will be held responsible and accountable.”
He said the two guards were interviewed and preliminary reports revealed a lack of adherence to certain policies aided in their escape.
“They are supposed to be directly supervised efficiently and that allowed them to escape,” he said, noting they were working in collaboration with the police in the probe.
This latest escape came less than a month and a half after the escape from the Frederick Street prison of Allan “Scanny” Martin, Hassan Atwell and Christopher Selby, which resulted in the deaths of Martin, Atwell and police officer Sherman Maynard.
Asked if the probe into that incident had determined how those men were able to get weapons, Stewart said: “It was not brought by any ghost or phantom but either by action or inaction on behalf of staff.”
Three prisons officers were suspended after viable accusations were made in that case, he said.
“I am not saying they were guilty but decisive actions had to be taken in light of the gravity of the situation.”
Stewart asked that officers be more disciplined, committed and professional in the execution of their duty.
He said over 400 inmates at the Remand Yard, Maximum Security and Carrera Island Prisons were deemed high risk, since they are there on charges for murder and capital offences.
A release from the Police Service described McGilvery as having a scorpion tattoo on the right side of his neck, an eagle tattoo on his chest and upper left arm and a tattoo of the words “Only God Can Judge Me” on his stomach. Mohammed, 34, has a bullet wound scar near his Adam’s apple.
Both men are considered armed and dangerous. If they are seen, citizens are advised to call E999 or 555 or contact the nearest police station.
Meanwhile, two Nigerian nationals were recaptured soon after escaping from the Immigration Detention Centre, yesterday.
According to police reports, the men escaped after 13 detainees set fire to mattresses, forcing an evacuation of Unit E around 11.20 am. While the detainees were in the yard the two men climbed the northern fence.
Officers of the Arima Police Station, led by Supt Moses and Insp Mark Maharaj, responded. One of the escapees was held a short distance away in some bushes while the second was tracked down by the K-9 Unit with help from the T&T Air Guard.
Police said the second escapee ambushed PC Antoine and hit him with a piece of wood. The officer drew his gun and shot the man in his left foot. Antoine was taken to West Shore Medical while the escapee was treated at the Arima Health Facility and transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope. Both were in a stable and satisfactory conditions last night.