Runaway Inmate Jailed Two Years

Kelvin Orlando, a 21-year-old galamsey operator, who unlawfully escaped police custody and was later re-arrested, has been sentenced to two years� imprisonment by a Tarkwa Circuit Court. He pleaded guilty. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the court, presided over by Mr Justice Obeng Asante, that the complainants are Corporal Francis Tawiah and Constable Adama Seidu, stationed at the Central Police Station in Tarkwa, while the accused was a suspect arrested and detained by the Railways Police in connection with a stealing case. According to the prosecutor, while in custody pending investigation, he escaped from police custody but was later arrested. He said Orlando�s behaviour became a threat to the police and he was, therefore, transferred to the Central Police cells to appear before court the next day. Chief Inspector Amponsah said on October 5 the convict and three other inmates, Godwin Aligah, Ebenezer Yankey and Joe Kpofoh, escaped from lawful custody by causing damage to the cells ventilation iron rods valued GH₵300. He said the complainants, in the course of their routine checks, detected that the inmates had escaped, and reported the incident to their superior officers and a search party was organised to hunt and arrest the escapees. The prosecutor said on November 22, the police, upon a tip-off, arrested Orlando at his hideout at a village near Nsuaem in the Western Region. Chief Inspector Amponsah said the convict admitted the offence during interrogation and mentioned the other three suspects who are at large as those he conspired with to commit the crime.