The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) yesterday adopted new measures to prevent negligence by prison personnel from resulting in inmates escaping.
The move came after Lo Shih-hung (羅世宏) took the place of another prisoner from Taipei Prison at a court hearing last Friday and escaped after being released on bail.
The Banciao District Court yesterday detained Lo’s wife and his brother-in-law in connection with the escape while they continued to search for Lo.
The ministry said all prisons had completed a thorough check yesterday to ensure all inmates were under lock and key.
It said it had arranged for the installation of a computer system in all prisons that would display photos of inmates at checkpoints to strengthen recognition of prisoners, while a fingerprint system would also soon be adopted.
The ministry also ordered prisons to increase checks on inmates attending court hearings.
Taipei Prison personnel who were deemed responsible for last week’s escape were sent to Banciao prosecutors for criminal investigation, the ministry said.
Lo was serving an eight-year term for drugs charges. He stood in for his cellmate, surnamed Lin, at a hearing in Banciao on Friday morning. He passed two checkpoints at the prison before he was taken to court.
After the hearing, the court decided to release “Lin” — who was charged with forgery, a less serious crime — on bail.
Lo’s brother-in-law paid the bail and took him from the court.
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