PATHEIN, Irrawaddy Region — Police have recaptured two of ten detainees who escaped from a cell at the Myoma Police Station in Irrawaddy Region’s Mawlamyinegyun Township on Sunday.
The township police station was holding some 80 detainees in custody, which was beyond its capacity, leaving 41 of them to be held on the upper floor of the old police station. At about 3 a.m. on August 25, 10 of those detainees broke through the floor and escaped.
Police Colonel Ye Myint, chief of the Irrawaddy Region Police Force, led the search operation and police recaptured two escapees in Mawlamyinegyun Township on Sunday. The two will face additional charges for the prison break, said the police spokesperson of the regional police force Lt-Col Khin Maung Latt.
The search operation continues in Labutta, Myaungmya and Maubin districts as eight others remain at large, according to the police.
Police have launched an internal investigation into the case, questioning the chiefs, officers and policemen of the Labutta district and township stations as well as the Myoma Police Station.
“We have detained seven policemen who were on guard that night for negligence. The investigation is being led by the deputy chief of the regional police force police Col Hlaing Tint, and punitive actions will be taken as necessary,” said police Lt-Col Khin Maung Latt.
On Sept. 14, 2016, three detainees cut cell bars with hacksaws and escaped from Einme Township police station. They were recaptured the following day.
Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.
