With five escaped suspects still on the loose, Ratanakkiri’s provincial court yesterday turned its attention toward prison officials during Sunday’s early-morning jailbreak.
Ratanakkiri deputy prosecutor Ros Saram yesterday said he questioned prison guards about the escape – during which five men awaiting trial for robbery, sexual assault and murder broke out of prison.
“We have not yet accused any prison guard of carelessness connected with yesterday’s jailbreak,” Saram, who declined to disclose the number of guards questioned, told the Post/i> yesterday.
“The court wants to know from prison guards exactly what happened; the court will continue to investigate the case.”
Six men originally escaped from the shared cell, but police caught Phai Vet as he attempted to escape.
When prison officials interrogated Vet on Sunday, he said the six men took turns hiding two pieces of jagged steel in their shoes, taking them out nightly to file down the bars to their cell over the course of an undetermined number of nights.
A jailbreak of several men accused of serious crimes is unacceptable, said Chhay Thy, provincial coordinator for rights group Adhoc, said.
“The prison must create a system in which inmates are watched all the time to ensure security,” Thy said.
Contact PhnomPenh Post for full article
Post Media Co LtdThe Elements Condominium, Level 7
Hun Sen Boulevard
Phum Tuol Roka III
Sangkat Chak Angre Krom, Khan Meanchey
12353 Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Telegram: 092 555 741
Email: [email protected]
