SUSPECTED bank robber William Kapris said he had escaped from prison on Feb 8, 2008, and on Jan 12 this year because his family was not allowed to visit him and was not allowed access to medical attention and legal aid, The National reports.
Kapris had pleaded guilty to both charges of escaping from lawful custody and was yesterday at the
He was represented by private counsel David Dotaona who, while making submissions on sentence, also made references to Kapris’ remorse and plea for forgiveness.
Dotaona also offered that his client had revealed that during the Jan 12 escape, the opportunity to do so presented itself during a mass breakout at the Bomana facility.
He said in the days after the escape, Kapris had decided against going into hiding and could have surrendered to police had he not been recaptured at the Afford Lodge at Gordon.
Presiding judge Justice Panuel Mogish took into account Kapris’ earlier concerns of why fellow escapee and BSP robbery suspect, Oliver Ben Gawi, was charged under the Summary Offences Act while he (Kapris) was charged under the Criminal Code Act.
Gawi appeared before a district court hearing and was sentenced to six months imprisonment, when the maximum penalty for such crimes was five years.
However, lawyer acting for the state Nicholas Miviri clarified that Gawi was charged under the Summary Offences Act because he was on remand when he escaped while Kapris was serving a sentence at the time he dashed to freedom.
Miviri also submitted that the prisoner had defied his convictions and the law by escaping while serving 15 years for rape and attempted murder.
He said Kapris had escaped, not once but, twice; an obvious display of deterrence.
Mogish will rule on the sentence today.
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