Jail break: Four escape Tema police cells

The Tema Police Command has mounted a search for four remand suspects, who escaped from the Tema Community Two police cell early yesterday morning.

The four runaway prisoners are Alfred Kofi Adovor, 28; David Kwabena Asampana, 25; Sumaila Adams, 18 and Simon Frimpong, 18.The first three had been charged with robbery, and Frimpong, stealing.

A fifth person, Mathew Donkor, 25, charged with robbery, also attempted to escape, but was re-arrested. There were 20 inmates in the cell at the time of the escape.

This is the second time in four years that suspects have escaped from the Community Two Police cells. The first occurred in 2004 when 10 remand suspects escaped through the ventilation holes. Eight of them were however re-arrested.

Inspector Olivia Turkson, Tema Police Public Affairs Officer briefing the press, said Frimpong, who had been granted court bail, was being kept at the cell due to his inability to provide the needed surety, adding that the cases of the escapees were still pending at court.

She said as a normal practice, the sergeant in charge, whose name she withheld for security reasons opened the cells at about 5:00am to collect the dustbin to be emptied by the labourer. She noted that immediately the officer in charge opened the cell, Adovor gave him a blow on the face, which resulted in a scuffle between the suspects and the officer.

The night investigator on duty, who was in his office, quickly entered the charge office and locked the main gate after the Sergeant on duty, had shouted for help when he realized he could not handle the suspects.

The Public Affairs Officer stated that the escapees broke the louver blades of the charge office and escaped through the window.

However, Donkor who had cuts on his right hand was re-arrested after a chase.

She said a medical form has been issued to the officer while the Police Administration has given the Night Investigator, the Non-Commission Officer and the Counter Station Orderly a 10-day ultimatum to produce the four escapees or face administrative disciplinary actions.

Inspector Turkson further said security would be beefed-up at the station and the number of officers on night duty would possibly be increased.

She also pleaded with the public to provide information that would lead to the arrest of the four, and other criminals in the metropolis.