CHAI NAT: Authorities were hunting Tuesday for a male prisoner who escaped from the Khao Phlong temporary prison in Muang district of this central province late Monday afternoon, said an informed source.
The local 191 police in Chai Nat were informed of the escape at 4.30pm Monday, and organised a manhunt.
The convict was identified as Sophon Soisungnoen, 28, of tambon Hat Tha Sao in Muang district of the same province.
The jailbreak occurred about 4pm during a group activity by prisoners near the facility's wall, said the same informed source, adding that the inmate sneaked out and disappeared into a forest next to the prison, which is located at the foot of a mountain.
After two hours of fruitless searching, prison authorities alerted the public in nearby communities, and asked them to inform them if they spotted the man.
Photos of the inmate along with his personal information were released, said the source.
Sophon Soisungnoen
Sophon stands 178cm tall and is slim. He was wearing an orange shirt provided by the prison when last seen.
Police visited his home but didn’t find him there, and asked relatives to work with the police to bring him back into custody.
Anyone with information about the escaped inmate should call 191. Police warned that anyone aiding him would face up to two years in prison plus a fine of 20,000 baht.
The same source said the temporary prison is a facility for detaining prisoners who are due to be released soon, which explains why it doesn’t maintain high security and why no inmates are shackled.
