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Two prison staff members, Joseph Oteng and Sergeant Isaac Boateng Bonsu, have been brought before an Accra Circuit Court on charges related to aiding the escape of Wang Xiao, a Chinese convict, at Nsawam Medium Prison. The accused correctional guards face charges of conspiracy and facilitating an escape.
According to reports, Oteng and Bonsu allegedly concocted a story claiming that after escorting Wang Xiao to the hospital for treatment, they were approached by a vehicle that whisked away the convict. However, CCTV footage from a hotel revealed a different story.
The footage showed the accused escorting Wang Xiao to a hotel room, where he met his wife. Subsequently, the convict and his wife allegedly fled by climbing down the balcony while the officers remained in the hotel lobby.
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During the court proceedings presided over by Mrs. Afia Owusua Appiah, the accused pleaded not guilty. The court granted them bail of GhC100,000 each, with two sureties to be justified. The case is set to reconvene on April 9, 2024.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Wisdom Alorwu, argued that the complainant was the third-in-command at Nsawam Medium Security Prisons, and that the accused were under his supervision.
The prosecution alleged that on February 7, 2024, Oteng and Bonsu accompanied Wang Xiao to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for treatment. Afterward, they purportedly agreed to take the convict to a hotel to meet his wife in exchange for a reward of GHC1,000.
Upon arrival at the hotel, the accused released the convict’s handcuffs and led him to a room where he met his wife. The prosecution claimed that the convict and his wife escaped through the balcony while the officers were waiting in the hotel lobby.
Subsequently, the accused allegedly attempted to conceal the handcuffs and falsely reported to their superiors that the convict had escaped after being approached by a vehicle.
The prosecution’s case was strengthened by CCTV footage from the hotel, which showed the events leading up to the escape.
The accused’s actions have raised serious concerns about the security protocols at the prison and the integrity of prison staff. The case highlights the importance of transparency and accountability within correctional facilities to prevent similar incidents in the future.
