Ralph Jones, the father of one of the prisoners who escaped from the Mazaruni Prison a week ago was yesterday remanded to prison after he was charged with providing assistance to them, including a change of clothing after the incident.
Sixty-year-old Jones, a boat captain of Fourth Avenue, Bartica appeared before Magistrate Crystal Lambert at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court.
He was charged with four counts of being an accessory after the fact to escaping from lawful custody. Jones was not required to plead to the charges and was remanded to prison.
The case was adjourned until March 5th for statements.
Imran Ramsaywack, Kenrick Lyte, Samuel Gouveia and Ryan Jones escaped from the solitary division of the Mazaruni Prison Complex, Cuyuni-Mazaruni last Tuesday morning.
Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn, in an invited comment had previously said that from all indications the prisoners were aided in their flight.
In a statement issued last Tuesday, Director of Prisons (ag) Nicklon Elliott had said the prisoners were observed missing at about 07:15 hours during the unlocking of the Brick Prison. The area is secured by a Duty Officer and four other ranks.
He said ranks on duty who went to unlock the prison observed that the padlock to the entrance gate had been tampered with. This led to further checks and it was discovered that two bars in the cell had been cut.
Upon the discovery, the matter was reported to the officer in charge of the Mazaruni Prison, Senior Superintendent of Prisons (Ag), Kofi David, who immediately ordered a roll call.
On its conclusion, the prison authorities confirmed that the convicted prisoners who were housed the Brick Prison (solitary) had escaped.
Elliot had noted that a Joint Patrol was established at the outer perimeter of the prison and a search over water, air, and land has been launched by the Joint Services to recapture the four escapees.
Ralph Jones was arrested by the police during last week. During questioning, he admitted to supporting the quartet during their escape by providing them with change of clothing.
The police had said that during questioning, Ralph Jones said that his son telephoned him sometime after 9pm last Tuesday, more than twelve hours after the break out and informed him of his actions.
He added that sometime after 1am, the following morning, all four of the escapees turned up at his Fourth Avenue, Bartica home. Whilst, there he said he provided each of them with a change of clothing.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum had previously told this newspaper that Ralph Jones also admitted to making arrangements to transport the prisoners from Bartica to Parika via boat following their escape.
A number of prison officers, who were on duty at the time of the incident and a boat captain were also arrested as part of the investigation. It is unclear at this point if they will be charged.
Ramsaywack and Lyte were imprisoned following murder convictions while Gouveia and Ryan Jones were convicted for man-slaughter.
Up to yesterday, the four escapees remained at large. A search is said to be ongoing in an effort to locate them.
Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the four is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 455-2238, 455-2222, 455-2241, 226-4585, 225-2700, 225-3650, 226-1326, 911, or the nearest police station.
