Tema, Jan. 6,GNA - A 30-year-old labourer, who escaped from lawful custody but was re-arrested on Christmas day, will spend five years in prison as his punishment.

Kwasi Aboagye, alias 'Matao', who pleaded guilty, was among 11 prisoners that escaped from the Tema Fishing Harbour Police cells at midnight on November 13, 1999. Mr Ringo Cass Azumah, Chairman of the Tema Circuit Tribunal, turned down his plea for leniency and handed him the sentence on Thursday.

Police Chief Inspector Edith Nutakor, told the tribunal that there were 21 prisoners awaiting trial in the Police cell for various offences, including possession of narcotic drugs, when 11 of them escaped through the roof. Luck, however, was not on the side of Aboagye, as he was spotted at the cocoa shed of the Tema Main Harbour on December 25, last year, loitering.

He was arrested and handed over to the Tema Harbour Police, who identified him as one of the escapees. The Police have obtained a warrant for the arrest of the other escapees. They are, Mawunyo Gakpetor, Dennis Moses, Zakari Abramani alias Jerico Galco and Anthony Graham. The rest are Kwadwo Basah, Baba Quarshie, Francis Baidoo, William Adjei, Yussif Lasisi and Kwaku Basah. GNA