Prison escapee captured

One of six inmates who escaped from prison officers at the Baddegama Magistrate’s Court was arrested yesterday.

A special team from the Baddegama Police and Special Task Force (STF) police had arrested the escaped inmate at around 11.00 p.m. last morning at the Ellekanda area in Baddegama.

The 21-year-old detainee had been held in custody for a rape case while the other escaped inmates were in remand custody for robbery. Investigations are underway, under the guidance of the Matara Prison Superintendent, over the prisoners’ escape yesterday from the Baddegama Magistrate’s Court when they were at the court for their trials.

Prison media spokesman Thushara Upuldeniya said a group of 15 prison officers had been deployed to find the inmates who fled from the custody of Galle Prison officers.

The six inmates had reportedly attacked the prison guards and escaped while they were being fingerprinted at the Magistrate’s Court in Baddegama yesterday.

The chief suspect who assaulted the prison officers was arrested yesterday, the prison media spokesman revealed.