TWO officers at Sesheke Correctional Service (ZCS) in Western Province are nursing injuries after allegedly been beaten by five remandees who wanted to escape from lawful custody.
The officers include Shaft Santembe 30 who sustained a swollen right palm, while John Mudenda 47 sustained a swollen left foot.
Western Province police Commissioner Diamond Likashi said the prisoners, who are facing one count of Aggravated Robbery attempted to escape from lawful custody through an open gate on Saturday around 16 : 00 hours but that officers among them the two that were beaten managed to chase and apprehend them.
Mr. Likashi explained that the prisoners were about to be locked up within the facility when the female Correctional Officer on duty at the main gate delayed in closing the gate, thereby giving an advantage to the five prisoners to escape through the open gate.
“Officers who were present gave chase and managed to apprehend all of them, and took them back into custody but it so happened that the escapees, in trying to resist their apprehension, beat up the officers,” he said.
Mr. Likashi said dockets of Assault and Escape from Lawful Custody had been opened in addition to the already existing charges and that officers were currently receiving medical treatment.
