Hong Kong prison officer recaptures handcuffed burglary suspect who fled hospital
- Inmate being held at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre over burglary offence taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital after complaining of physical discomfort
- He managed to slip free of handcuffs attached to bed and ran out of hospital, but prison officer gave chase and recaptured him about 200 metres from main building
A Hong Kong prison officer has recaptured an inmate who managed to slip out of his handcuffs while under his watch at a public hospital, the second such incident in five months.
The Correctional Services Department on Wednesday said the 27-year-old, held at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre over a burglary offence since July, was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei after complaining of physical discomfort on Friday.
The man was then admitted for treatment.
“At about 10.57pm [on Tuesday], he suddenly escaped from the handcuffs tied to the bed and ran away,” the department said.
A source with knowledge of the matter said the man was being guarded by the department officer who was inside the ward at the time.
A preliminary investigation suggested a nurse saw the inmate running out of the ward and shouted for help, alerting the officer who then gave chase, the insider added.
