28 Jun 2013

Police in Samoa call on public help to recapture escaped prisoners

8:58 am on 28 June 2013

The police in Samoa are hunting for three prisoners including a female inmate who left Tafaigata prison to spend time with her family last weekend but has not return.

The woman, Punaotala Sakai, is serving a jail sentence for false pretence.

One of the other two male prisoners, Nazario Chong Nee, is serving a jail term for bank robbery.

He was convicted of robbing a branch of the Westpac Bank at Vaitele industrial zone.

He was charged with four other defendants including his brother Robert Chong Nee, who were also found guilty.

The police have issued a warning for members of the public not to approach any of the three escapees but to immediately contact a nearest police station.