Accra, March 16, GNA - John Malm, alias Baby Nii, notorious armed robber, on Tuesday said the 10 persons accused of masterminding his escape from lawful prison custody had no hand in the escapade.

In a cross-examination at an Accra Circuit Court, where Malm is being tried with his accomplices, who aided his escape, he denied the Prosecution's claim that proceeds realized from the sale of his property was used to facilitate his escape.

He explained that he asked his mother, Sarah Malm to dispose of his property to enable her to file an application against his detention. Malm told the Court that the only two people who were involved in the plans for his escape were one Philip and Tekyi, alias Tsiki, adding that the Prison Officer, who had been implicated had no foreknowledge about the plan for his escape.

He said the idea was hatched on the very day Philip and Tekyi visited him at Nsawam Prisons, and coincidentally he was being sent to the Prison Hospital because he was indisposed.

Malm said when his visitors told him that they came with a car, he then brought the idea of possible escape, and to make the idea simple, he told the Prison Officer that he wanted to eat and that he should remove the handcuff on him.

He said fortunately enough the car was parked close to where he was eating and the Prison Officer too was standing alert on the spot, adding, "the moment the Officer turned his face slightly from my direction I walked into the car and it sped off."

Malm stated that they drove direct to Kasoa and made a stopover at the house of a Mallam, who he met for the first time.

He said they then boarded a vehicle to Aflao where he lodged with one of his uncles, who later took him to his village in Togo. Malm told the Court that it was in Togo that he called his girlfriend, one Regina, to visit him.

Malm said in a chat with his girlfriend on telephone, she expressed shock at how he managed to escape from prison, adding: "Although she initially declined to visit me I was able to convince her to come over".