PRISON Commissioner Carlos Corraspe says the Prison Service “dropped the ball,” after an inmate charged with murder escaped custody while being treated at the Eric Williams Medical Science Complex, Mt Hope on August 4.
A statement from the Prison Service said Hakeem Ishmael Mohammed, from Wharf Trace, Maracas, St Joseph, escaped from the hospital's accident and emergency department around 3 am on August 4.
The Prison Service said Mohammed was considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached if seen.
Police were still searching for Mohammed up to press time on August 5.
Speaking with Newsday on August 5, Corraspe apologised to the public and other stakeholders in the justice system.
“Any time there is an escape from prison custody, it means that the prison has dropped the ball on public safety. Every single crime that takes place from the time that person has escaped – including the fact of the escape which is a criminal offence – every single crime that takes place during that period is on the prison service.
"I have to apologise on behalf of the prison service, as the head, for us dropping the ball where that is concerned.”
He was unable to say exactly how Mohammed escaped but said the matter was being investigated with an eye to preventing a re-occurrence.
“I'm expecting a report, and the report will give us a clear guideline as to what transpired, in the best way that it can be reconstructed.”
Corraspe added any officer found to be culpable would face the relevant sanctions which could include dismissal and even possible criminal charges.
“There are some (charges) that are delegated to the commissioner, which are internal matters and less of a punishment, (and could be) as much as a 12 days pay from the officer's salary if the tribunal is activated and the officer is found guilty.
“If, however, the matter is external and it goes on external tribunal within the Public Service Commission, one of the possible punishments is in fact dismissal.
"If it goes up higher than that to a situation where it is proven that there's some malfeasance on the part of the officer, then of course that becomes a criminal offence and the police will be involved.”
Meanwhile, president of TT Registered Nurses Association (TTRNA) Idi Stuart asked why the prisoner was not sent to the Port of Spain General Hospital (PoSGH).
Stuart said PoSGH was the only hospital, as far as he knew, that was outfitted to deal with high-risk prisoners.
“These high-risk patients are supposed to be housed in an acceptable, approved manner. PoSGH is the only place currently where they created a unit to house these high-risk patients, where they will be under constant security arrangements, both to prevent them from hurting others or persons coming in to hurt them or escaping like what transpired.”
Stuart said that had been an ongoing concern for the TTRNA, as his information was that prisoners tried to get sent to Mt Hope as it was easier to escape from.
“They actually plan it, because more often than not, it's on
