Police in Samoa are appealing for information that would lead to the arrest of a convicted criminal who is on the run.
They are also investigating whether the escapee is linked to a spate of thefts reported in the past few days.
Police spokesperson Su’a Le Mamea Tiumalu says 18 year old Aniseko Vaelei of Aele and Vaiusu has been out of Tafaigata Prison for over three weeks.
Su’a adds Prison and Correctional Services only notified them of Vaelei’s escape a few days ago.
“Aniseko Vaelei is serving sentence at Tafaigata for four charges and his current sentence would conclude in 2020. However with his latest escape he is facing further charges,” says Su’a.
Vaelei is serving sentences for breaking and entering, theft, robbery and possession of narcotics.
“We cannot speculate on why we weren’t advised once he got out because that’s the Prisons and Correctional Services’ duties to alert Police. But I can say that there is no conflict between the Police and PCS,” he added.
The statement by police comes in light of two separate cases of theft and breaking and entering reported yesterday.
A resident of Vaitele Uta lodged a complaint with police of expensive equipment being stolen from his vehicle that was parked outside his house.
The complainant also sought the help of the media to locate the equipment and the suspect.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Prison and Corrections Services’ is yet to comment on the latest prison escape.