Escapees from Lautoka custody charged with theft, criminal intimidation and escaping from lawful custody

Joeli Nukunawa, Isaac Mathew James and Emosi Baleidrokadroka who escaped from custody in Lautoka last Monday have been jointly charged with a count each of theft, criminal intimidation and escaping from lawful custody.

All three have been remanded in custody and will reappear in the Lautoka Magistrates Court on the 4th of next month.

Meanwhile, a Police officer has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of an internal investigation into how the three remand prisoners escaped from custody from the Lautoka Police Station last Monday.

Nukunawa was arrested in Vitogo in Lautoka, Mathew James was recaptured in Naikabula in Lautoka last Tuesday while Baleidrokadroka was arrested in Navutu in Lautoka last Thursday.