Two arraigned after escaping custody

Yusuf Mohamed Cama and Ahmed Abdi Rizaq, both 19 from Somalia were this morning arraigned under arrest in front of Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit and accused of escaping from custody on May 14.

Inspector Jason Francis Sultana  stated that the divisional police were informed by the detention services officers that two detainees had escaped from custody but were captured moments later.

The detention officers had told the police at the Msida Police Station that at around 15:00 they were escorting several detainees from the Safi Centre to Mater Dei Hospital in three separate detention services vans.

While the officers were escorting the detainees from one van into the Emergency department, the two Somalis escaped from the windows of another van and ran away. Detention officers chased the Somali youths and apprehended them moments after.

The youth cooperated with the officers and did not offer any resistance.

The Somalis were then transferred to the Police lock up in Floriana and today arraigned in court.

Both the accused were given a three month prison term.