FORMER Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Private, John Lambert, 24, who is serving a four-year jail sentence escaped from the Lusignan Prison, East Coast Demerara, on Sunday.

Lambert, who is serving time for possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, resided at Lot 158 North Haslington, East Coast Demerara at the time of his sentencing.

He was being held in the holding bay (number three) when he escaped from the confinement by scaling a fence on the south-eastern end of the compound at around 03:39hrs Sunday, prison officials say.

A number of shots were fired at the fleeing prisoner after he refused to heed verbal warnings, cautioning him to desist from escaping lawful custody; however, he still managed to escape.

The discharge of rounds alerted other ranks who were on duty and an emergency mechanism kicked in but by then, Lambert had made good his escape. Police have since launched a search for him.

In a statement, both the police and the prison service noted that Lambert was admitted to prison Friday last. In addition to his sentencing, he was also ordered to pay a fine of $30,000 when the ruling was handed down to him at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.