One of twelve youths, who escaped on Tuesday night from the Sophia Juvenile Holding Centre remains on the run.
Police yesterday said that the other eleven were recaptured within 24 hours of their escape between Weldaad, West Coast Berbice and the Botanical Gardens, Georgetown.
The youth who remains in hiding, a 17- year- old of Leopold & Cross streets, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, had been charged with murder.
Police Commander of Region 4 ‘A’, Senior Superintendent Phillip Azore, yesterday told Stabroek News that they are still investigating the motive behind the escape. He is optimistic that upon completion of the investigation they will be able to establish the reason why the youths escaped.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Guyana Police Force said that “stringent’’ efforts are being made to have the remaining seven recaptured. The twelve escaped from the facility on Tuesday at 11.30 pm.
Five were later found hiding in a house at ‘E’ Field, Pattensen, Turkeyen/Sophia, according to a source. The source added that the juveniles who were found have not been cooperative.
The source also disclosed that during the escape the juveniles attacked two officers and beat them severely before making good their escape. The two police officers were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where they were treated for lacerations and bruises before being discharged.
It is unclear what might have led to such a serious incident at the holding centre but there have been previous cases and concerns raised about conditions at the facility.
