PATHEIN, Irrawaddy Region — Police have recaptured all three detainees within 24 hours after they escaped from Myoma Police Station in Irrawaddy Region’s Bogale Township early Tuesday.
The three men escaped at about 3:30 a.m. after using hacksaws to cut through the bars of their cell. After breaking out of the police station, the trio stole a motorbike from a driver and headed in the direction of Mawlamyinegyun Township.
Two of the detainees were recaptured near Ye Lel village in Maubin Township at around 7:40 a.m. Tuesday during a joint search operation conducted by police from Pyapon District, Bogale Township and Maubin.
The third escapee, Hla Naing Oo, was recaptured around 5 p.m. the same day in Yangon’s Hlaingtharyar Township, a police officer of Bogale Township police station told The Irrawaddy.
One of the three escapees, former policeman Akar Jue, 23, was originally detained for theft. The other, Poe Phyu, 19, was originally detained on a charge of assault to commit theft. Hla Naing Oo, 33, was detained on a rape charge, police said.
Eight policemen of Bogale Township police station on duty during the prison break are being detained at the police station and will be disciplined according to police disciplinary rules.
In August last year, 10 detainees escaped from a cell at the Myoma Police Station in Irrawaddy Region’s Mawlamyinegyun Township, though all were later recaptured.
Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.