POLICE are currently on the hunt for an 18-year-old inmate held at the Lusignan Prison who, this morning, escaped the prison’s compound, according to a police statement.

The escaped inmate, Kavin Singh, of 291 School Street Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was attending court in the virtual courtroom set up inside the prison compound.

The police statement said Singh was admitted at the prison in December last, charged with two counts of Possession of Ammunition and Firearm, and Robbery under Arms.

The statement said Prison Officer Dhanraj ‘uplifted’ seven inmates, including Kavin Singh, to attend court at Lusignan Prison earlier this morning at approximately 9:30 hrs.

The now-escaped inmate and six other inmates were in the custody of Prison Officer, Rawlewayne Payne. Police said that at about 09:45 hrs, Singh asked Prison Officer Payne to use the prisoner washroom, situated on the north-western side of the court compound.

Permission was granted and Singh left and went to use the washroom. He was chained at the ankle, according to police.

Prison Officer Payne reportedly went to the court office, leaving the prisoner in the washroom. Upon the officers return to the prisoner washroom, the statement recounted, he discovered Singh missing and raised the alarm.

Police said checks were made in the court compound, and it was observed that the eastern fence of the court compound, which has a chain-link fence, was detached from the post.