After managing to elude the police for more than a year, Samuel Gouveia, the convicted prisoner who escaped from the Mazaruni Prison, was recaptured by the police on Tuesday.
Police Commander of Region Eight, Michael Kingston confirmed that Gouveia was arrested around 04.30hrs at the Mahdia hospital while trying to seek medical attention.
According to a police report, Gouveia was involved in a heated argument with a man over money around 23.30hrs Monday at Mowasie landing, Konawaruk during which he was stabbed.
At the time of his arrest, Gouveia had a knife stuck in his neck.
He was escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he is currently a patient under police guard.
On February 16, 2021, Gouveia and three other prisoners; Imran Ramsaywack, Ryan Jones and Kenrick Lyte escaped from the Mazaruni prison.
A week after the break-out, Ralph Jones, Ryan Jones’s father was arrested and remanded to prison after he was charged with providing assistance to them, including a change of clothing after the incident.
Ramsaywack and Jones were fatally wounded more than a month after during a shoot-out with the police in a shack in the backlands of Better Hope South, East Coast Demerara.
Police had gone there on a tip-off that the escapees were hiding in the area. A woman, Savita Rajkumar was also shot and killed during the incident.
The fourth escapee, Lyte was never recaptured.
Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn had previously said that from all indications the prisoners were aided in their flight.
In a statement issued then, 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.
Gouveia was convicted for manslaughter and sentenced to 18 years and 9 months.
