7 suspects escape from Rundu Police cells

SEVEN trial-awaiting prisoners escaped from Police cells at Rundu on Tuesday night.

Police Regional Commander for the Kavango Region Chief Inspector Olavi Auanga confirmed the escape of the suspects on Wednesday. He said the seven suspects escaped after breaking the bars of the Police cells.The incident, according to Auanga, was only detected by the Police on Wednesday morning.The Regional Commander warned members of the public not to try and rearrest the suspects as they were considered very dangerous.Auanga, however, appealed to members of the public to assist the Police with information on the whereabouts of the suspects.The Rundu incident brings the number of suspects who have escaped from Police custody since last Saturday to 23.Five trial-awaiting prisoners escaped from the Keetmanshoop Police cells on Saturday.They were however rearrested and appeared in court on Tuesday on charges of escape from lawful custody.Eleven suspects broke out of the Oshakati Police Station cells early on Sunday morning.The suspects escaped through the roof of the Police station after breaking through the burglar bars.One of the men, Silas Ananias, was rearrested on Monday at Oshakati.He faces charges of housebreaking and theft, and an additional charge of escape from lawful custody.The 10 other escapees were awaiting trial on serious crimes such as murder, rape, attempted rape, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, armed robbery, stock theft and theft.In all the incidents, Police have said investigations have been launched by the Complaints and Discipline Division to determine if there was negligence on the part of the officers who were on duty.He said the seven suspects escaped after breaking the bars of the Police cells.The incident, according to Auanga, was only detected by the Police on Wednesday morning.The Regional Commander warned members of the public not to try and rearrest the suspects as they were considered very dangerous.Auanga, however, appealed to members of the public to assist the Police with information on the whereabouts of the suspects.The Rundu incident brings the number of suspects who have escaped from Police custody since last Saturday to 23.Five trial-awaiting prisoners escaped from the Keetmanshoop Police cells on Saturday.They were however rearrested and appeared in court on Tuesday on charges of escape from lawful custody.Eleven suspects broke out of the Oshakati Police Station cells early on Sunday morning.The suspects escaped through the roof of the Police station after breaking through the burglar bars.One of the men, Silas Ananias, was rearrested on Monday at Oshakati.He faces charges of housebreaking and theft, and an additional charge of escape from lawful custody.The 10 other escapees were awaiting trial on serious crimes such as murder, rape, attempted rape, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, armed robbery, stock theft and theft.In all the incidents, Police have said investigations have been launched by the Complaints and Discipline Division to determine if there was negligence on the part of the officers who were on duty.