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Richard Nkosi
One of the two prisoners who escaped from Barberton Juvenile Center of Excellence on June 17 was re-arrested on July 20 by police from White river on the road to Sabie. Henry Mnisi (19) was riding a bicycle, suspected to be stolen, when police cornered him.
According to Reuben Mvula, department of correctional services spokesman, the White River police were looking for a suspect wanted for burgling a house in town after a case had been opened earlier the day. They saw a man riding a bicycle on the road that raised suspicions that he might be linked to the reported burglary case and took him to the station for questioning.
Mvula said it was only coincidence that Mnisi was re-arrested. “When the two escaped we distributed their photos to various police stations around the province. When he was brought in to the police station, they realised that he was wanted for escaping from prison.” He added that he was not connected to the burglary.
Mnisi along with Given Mashego (22) escaped from prison while they were out working with other inmates.
They escaped by sliding underneath the taut wire-fence system and cutting the outside perimeter fence. Correctional service members who guarded the inmates only realised after 30-minutes that something was wrong. They did a head count and found that two were missing. Other members were alerted and a manhunt was launched. While on the run, the two men were also linked to a rape case. The 26-year old woman identified them from photos. Before his escape, Mnisi, who hails from Phola Park near White River, was serving 40-years for housebreaking, theft and robbery.
Mvula said he would now also face charges of escaping from prison.
In the meantime Mashego is still at large and the search for him continues. Anyone with information can report it to the nearest police station or phone the crime stop number on 08600-10111.
Mvula concluded by saying that the internal investigation to determine how the prisoners escaped has been completed, but actions to be taken has not been finalised.
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