Tafaigata Prison

The school academy of over 300 students is now in full throttle with classes starting from Early Childhood Education (ECE) right through to Year 8.

Vice Principal Tevaga Lemalu Pio Tevaga said the location of the school is convenient to most of their students.

“The location of St. Paul’s Academy eliminates the extra task by parents to commute all the way to town or to Vaitele Uta where the nearest schools are. Instead, families living close by, especially with those who have moved over from Sogi, have a school right next door to send their children,” Tevaga said.

The prisoner, Aniseko Vaelei, was handcuffed when he appeared before the chief justice on Monday.

He admitted to eight charges including one of escape from prison.

But he denied eight other charges which relate to the aggravated robbery of a supermarket at Vailoa Faleata village in which a Chinese woman was allegedly assaulted.

Aniseko, who was captured at Tapatapao in early March, will stand trial in September on the latest charges.

The men escaped a week ago and two remain on the run.

Security at the prison has been a problem.

RNZI reports there has been a history of escape prisoners from the main Tafaigata prison.

From the time when the prison was under the authority of the Ministry of Police, there was always cases of prisoners escape.

There is no fence surrounding the whole compound for the main prison.

The assistant commissioner of prisons Ulugia Sauafea Niui'a said they would be working together with the police on the case.

The inmates, both males, a 38 and a 40 year old were found with leaves suspected to be marijuana during a routine search when they returned to prison.