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An inquiry is underway into how a Ngawha Prison inmate managed to escape after a medical check at Whangarei Hospital despite being chained to a guard.
A tip-off from a member of the public is thought to have helped police, who recaptured the fugitive yesterday in Whangarei.
The Corrections Department has begun an inquiry and the Northland District Health Board is checking to see that protocols for dealing with prisoners were adhered to.
"The matter is now in the hands of police and the department are co-operating fully with them," Corrections northern regional manager Warren Cummins said.
Corrections would not say how many guards were with the prisoner or whether he had been helped.
Corrections said that throughout the escort, normal procedures were followed.
"The prisoner was chained to an officer at all times when he was out of the escort van. At no time were the Corrections officers injured or threatened by the prisoner.
"The incident is under investigation, and it is not possible to put a timeframe on its completion at this early stage," the department said in a statement.
The 20-year-old man, who had been on remand at Ngawha Prison awaiting a court appearance, had complained to prison staff of chest pains.
He was taken to Whangarei Hospital where he was assessed by medical staff but fled from his escort outside the hospital about 4am on Saturday.
It is the first time a Ngawha prisoner has escaped since the jail opened in March last year, although the bid for freedom was not actually made from the prison itself.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)
