Two charged after courtroom escape

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Ollies Siaea (above) should contact the police through the 111 call centre or the Manukau CIB on 0274-974912.

A conspirator is alleged to have waited outside a courtroom to swap clothes with an accused kidnapper, who walked unchallenged out of court by claiming he was someone else.

Two people have been charged with aiding the escape of 31-year-old Ollies Siaea: the person waiting outside the court, and the cellmate whose identity Siaea assumed. Police said Siaea and his cellmate resembled each other. International airports have been alerted to Siaea's escape as police believe he may try to leave the country for Samoa or Australia.

Siaea escaped from the Manukau District Court on Friday after he claimed to be the other prisoner who was being released on bail.

He had earlier appeared in the court on a charge of kidnapping a 24-year-old Cambodian man on Wednesday night from the man's Papatoetoe home and holding him for ransom. Siaea was remanded in custody.

Detective Inspector Jim Gallagher, of Counties Manukau Police, told Radio NZ the second person who had been charged was waiting outside the court with a change of clothes for Siaea.

Siaea had family in South Auckland and was likely to approach people he knew.

Gallagher warned that anyone helping the escaper could face up to seven years' jail.

The man Siaea was accused of kidnapping was freed after a ransom was paid but the money had been recovered, police said.

They believe several people were involved in the kidnapping.

- NZPA