The Police Force’s chief operations officer said many deals have taken place in the background in relation to the prison breakout and the robberies connected to them.
Acting assistant Police commissioner Rusiate Tudravu said as they hunt for the fifth prisoner Isoa Waqa who is still on the run, they are also gathering all the information in relation to the breakout last Monday and the people who are assisting these prisoners.
As the questioning of the four prisoners continues, ACP Tudravu confirmed that five people are expected to appear in court later today.
ACP Tudravu has confirmed that two people were taken into custody for allegedly harboring the prisoners and will be appearing in the Suva Magistrates Court today.
These two were caught near Uduya Point where the four prisoners were captured.
Three people who were allegedly involved in the BSP Samabula branch robbery last week will also be appearing in court today.
It is also confirmed that two of these three people allegedly assisted the prisoners to escape from the Naboro medium facility on Monday night.
The four prisoners who were caught on Friday are still being questioned.
The incidents allegedly involving the prisoners include the 8 seater van stolen from Lower Ragg Avenue which was later found in Cunningham, the Wish Bone Restaurant robbery at Centerpoint, the robbery at a doctor’s house in Muanikau, a robbery at the Suva Peninsula Hotel Suva and the BSP Samabula robbery on Wednesday afternoon.
ACP Tudravu has confirmed that there is a link between the BSP robbery and the prison escape.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has called on Waqa to turn himself in to the police.
30-year-old Waqa was serving an 8 year sentence for robbery with violence.
Commodore Bainimarama said every effort is being made to catch Isoa Waqa and the Prime Minister said he shares the community’s outrage at the circumstances of the escape and the fear sparked after the series of robberies that followed.
He added he will not tolerate any breakdown of law and order especially when people are being terrorized.
28-year-old Solomoni Qurai who was serving a life sentence for burglary and murder, 29-year-old Tevita Sugu who was serving a 13 year sentence for aggravated robbery, 25-year-old Josaia Usumaki who was serving a 26 year sentence for robbery with violence and related offences and 30-year-old Epeli Qaraniqio who was serving 8 years for robbery with violence were caught near the bushes in Uduya Point.
Police checkpoints have been set up at various locations as the hunt continues for Waqa.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
We will get everyone involved - ACP Tudravu
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