By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
ZWEDRU, Liberia- Just two weeks after six convicts escaped jail in which two were rearrested, an additional two convicts have again escaped jail in the presence of both police support Unit (PSU) and Correction officers.
The continuous lack of food, electricity and others basic services are said to be the major causes for the continuing jail breaks at the Zwedru correction palace.
This situation has been lingering for a long time now at various prison facilities across the country, with the Justice Ministry so far not being able to find solution to the problem.
As the saying goes, “a hungry man is also a hungry lion”, the latest jail break occurred yesterday, Wednesday, November 16,2022 at 14:30pm.
The two convicts who escaped prison are Micheal Flomo was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder in 2010 in Bong County, but he was transferred at the Zwedru correction palace. As for Jacob Varmo, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and criminal conspiracy in Nimba County in 2019 and he was transferred to the Zwedru correction palace.
There is a prolonged silence by the Liberian Justice Ministry about the wave of jail break in recent times.
However, a correction officer at the palace (name withheld) said the continue escape of convicts at the Zwedru correction palace is due to lack of food, electricity and basic services.
The correction officer added that he wants the Ministry of Justice to assign them weapons in order to curtail the high increase of jail break at the correction palace.
He further blamed police support unit officers assigned at the prison for the escape of high core convicts, because they are not static at the prison facility, but rather always seen at various checkpoints collecting five or ten Liberia dollars.
Meanwhile, those convicts who escaped are declared wanted by the Liberia National police and their photos have been placed at major checkpoints and borders.
It can be recalled on October 29, 2022, six convicts broke jail but only two were rearrested and Those who broke jail are Daniel Clement convicted of Raped and sentenced to life imprisonment in Bong County.
Jackson Sulokolo convicted of murder, armed robbery and criminal conspiracy and sentenced to 25 years in Bong County.
James Kollie, alias “depree” was convicted of murder and criminal conspiracy and sentenced to 35 in Kakata, Margibi County.
Lawrence Robinson convicted of Armed robbery, criminal conspiracy and aiding consummation of the crime and sentenced to 20 years.
Francis Nyumah was convicted of Armed robbery, theft of property and criminal conspiracy sentenced to 25 years in prison.