Two prison officers, Joseph Oteng and Sergeant Isaac Boateng Bonsu, are currently on trial at the Accra Circuit Court for allegedly aiding the escape of a Chinese convict, Wang Xiao, from Nsawam Medium Prison.
According to a report by citinewsroom.com, Oteng and Bonsu are facing charges of conspiracy and aiding escape, as detailed in a charge sheet presented by police prosecutor Chief Inspector Wisdom Alorwu during court proceedings.
The prosecutor outlined that on February 7, 2024, Oteng and Bonsu were assigned the task of escorting Wang Xiao to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for medical treatment.
However, following Xiao’s treatment at the hospital’s Dental Department, the two officers allegedly conspired to accompany him to Oceans Hotel in Korle Gonno, purportedly to meet his wife, in exchange for a reward of GH¢1,000.
Allegedly, Oteng and Bonsu facilitated Xiao’s meeting with his supposed wife in a hotel room, after which Xiao and the woman escaped via the hotel room’s balcony while the officers remained in the reception area.
The prosecution revealed that upon discovering Xiao’s escape, the accused officers attempted to conceal evidence by hiding the handcuffs at Tema Station Hockey Stadium.
Furthermore, they allegedly misled their superiors at the prison, claiming that Xiao had fled after being approached by an unregistered Toyota Vitz taxi.
However, their attempts to cover up the incident were undermined when CCTV footage from the hotel became available.
During investigations, the accused officers led police to the hotel, where a review of CCTV footage revealed Xiao and his purported wife jumping from the balcony of the first-floor building and fleeing while the accused officers were relaxing in the reception area after receiving meals from the convict’s alleged wife.