16 escape from Police cells

SECURITY at the Katutura Police station came under scrutiny this weekend after 16 trial-awaiting prisoners escaped from the cells after cutting the burglar bars in front of a window.

The Police have not yet ascertained what was used to cut the bars. By late yesterday, five of the fugitives had been rearrested.Two were caught while allegedly trying to commit a robbery in Katutura on Sunday night.Two others were also arrested in Katutura on Sunday, while the fifth handed himself over to the Police yesterday.Three of the escapees are being held on murder charges, four on robbery charges and eight on charges of housebreaking or theft. The Police did not say what charge the remaining man was held on.Unconfirmed reports have it that two other prisoners escaped from the prisons authorities two weeks ago.One prisoner allegedly escaped from the Katutura State Hospital while being guarded by prison wardens. Sources say the suspect went to the toilet at night and escaped through the ceiling and roof.The second suspect is believed to have escaped through a toilet window while attending a court hearing at Witvlei.Prisons authorities could not confirm these two incidents by the time of going to press.