TWO police officers were on Thursday placed on self-bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after being accused of allowing three prisoners to escape while in their custody.Forty-year-old Police Corporal Jessie Brown of Annai Village, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, along with 26-year-old Constable Dawnley Joseph of Lot 609 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, denied the joint charge.
Particulars of the offence alleged, the while the two officers were stationed at the Lethem Police Station between September 16 and September 17, 2015, they allowed Don Peters, Michael McDonald and Tiagio Da Silva to escape through their negligence or carelessness.
The duo was represented by attorney-at-law Jerome Khan, who pointed out that Brown had served the Guyana Police Force for over 20 years, while Joseph had joined the force six years ago. According to Khan, on the days in question, Brown was the subordinate officer in charge of the Lethem Police Station while Dawnley was under his command.

The lawyer pointed out that the police station is about 40ft away from the lock-ups and the prisoners had escaped in the wee hours of the morning. Other prisoners in the lock-ups raised an alarm, but the men had already made good their escape.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones made no objection to bail, but disclosed that both officers were on active duty when the men escaped from their station. Magistrate McLennan released the officers on their own recognizance and transferred the matter to Lethem Magistrate’s Court for August 29.

The three men had all been on remand for various offences, including break and enter and larceny. They managed to cut through the lock securing the station lock-ups and made good their escape on Thursday, September 17, 2015. Police say Don Peters is 28 years old and his last known addresses are St. Ignatius, Central Rupununi and Bom Fin, Brazil. Michael McDonald is 20 years old and his last known addresses are also listed as St Ignatius, Central Rupununi and Bom Fin, Brazil Tiagio Da Silva, 28 is a Brazilian by birth.Because the men have connections in neighbouring Brazil, it is widely believed that they have fled there.