The deputy commissioner of the Samoa Prisons and Corrections Services says prison breakouts are the result of incompetent officers not doing their jobs properly.
Speaking to TV1Samoa, Levaopolo Rosa To’ese Siaosi, said the recent breakout of seven remand detainees was clearly an oversight on the part of the officer involved.
She said someone in the remand cell had called out that a fellow cell mate was seriously ill and needed help.
Levaopolo said the officer involved had grabbed the keys off the watch commander and rushed to open the cell.
“He apparently had what appeared to be a block of some sort thrown at him as soon as he opened the cell door,” said Levaopolo.
Others rushed the door and pushed it wider as the seven dashed for freedom according to the deputy commissioner.
She said normal practice is two officers open cell doors, for whatever reason.
On this occassion the officer in question did not wait for a second officer.
The officer sustained some injuries during the breakout and is recovering.
Five of the escapees were rounded up straight away but two managed to get over the security fence and escaped.
One of the two has since been caught but one is still at large.
The deputy commissioner highlighted just how understaffed they are at the country’s largest prison.
A total of 60 prison officers staff he prison which currently houses more than 300 inmates and 100 remand detainees.
