Prison break at Obuasi: jailbird arrested

A three-time convict who escaped from the Obuasi Prison in the Ashanti Region Friday morning has been re-arrested.

Yaw Saboku who is serving a 12-month term and one other inmate were sent to one of the Prison’s Barracks to tidy up the place when he bolted, the Obuasi Prison officials told TV3 Online.

“Two people [inmates] were escorted by one of our men to one of our barracks. They were tidying the Prison barracks but unfortunately, one of them [Saboku] took to his heels around 8:30 in the morning,” Staff Officer ASP F.W.K. Dapaa said.

An escape routine team set up by officials in collaboration with the Ghana Police led to the arrest of Saboku Friday evening on the Obuasi Dunkwa road. He has since been taken back to the Prison.

Prison officials and the Police investigators are set to interrogate Saboku Saturday morning to establish the motive behind his escape and appropriate charges preferred against him for prosecution.

“He was brought back to custody after 6:00pm [Friday] so we will interrogate him tomorrow morning to know the reasons for his escape,” ASP Dapaa said, noting he is likely to be charged for attempting to escape.

An attempted or jailbreak is a punishable offence under the country’s laws.

Saboku is currently serving a 12-month jail term at the Obuasi Prison for stealing, and is said to be a regular at the Prison. Records from the Prison indicate he has been there three times as a convicted prisoner.