- Published: July 1, 2008
- Permalink
- Printer Friendly Version
- Discuss this Article (31)
- Next Article in this Section
Skinny reportedly seen in unnamed rural area
The police have received reports of the sighting of escaped high-profile prisoner Jermaine “Skinny” Charles at undisclosed rural location and are responding to leads, a high-ranking police officer revealed yesterday.
Charles escaped from the Sparendaam lock-ups after making a court appearance there on Wednesday last.
He managed to sneak under loosened boards in the lock-ups and made his way out of the police station unnoticed. The police only realized he was missing some three hours after.
A senior police officer told this newspaper yesterday that some inside work was being done in the community, which he preferred not to name. However, he said nothing substantial has come up.
Meanwhile, the officer noted that the three teens arrested in Agricola at the weekend reportedly for harbouring Charles, had been released. The officer said the police were equipped with reliable information prior to the men’s arrest, however such information could not be transferred into reliable enough evidence to press charges against the youths.
The officer said that the youths have denied seeing Charles.
At a press conference following the escape, Commissioner of Police (ag) Henry Greene had said that police were convinced that it was well planned and while there was no evidence at the time of collusion, the officers found guilty of negligence will be interdicted from duty. Greene also admitted that there was no evidence that the mandatory checks were made on the prisoners during the period that they were returned to the lock-ups after making their court appearance.
Thirty-three prisoners, including Charles and David Leander called `Biscuit’, were escorted from the George-town prisons to the Sparen-daam police station with the relevant escort as dictated by the standing orders.
Charles was at the Sparendaam court to answer a charge in relation to the murder of the late government minister Satyadeow Sawh, his siblings and his security guard. He is also facing other charges of murder including the Kaieteur News pressmen.
Around 11.30 am, Leander and Charles were taken out for court where they spent only about ten minutes and then replaced in the lock-ups as the police awaited the magistrate’s signature of the warrants before they departed for the Georgetown Prison.
The prisoners were left unsupervised and no one visited the lock-ups. During this time, the two wooden boards were lifted and Charles used a seven inch by two and half inch opening to escape, the police said.
It was when the police received the warrants around 3.30 pm and were ready to move the prisoners that they discovered that Charles had escaped.
Information later revealed that Charles, upon entering the courtyard had signalled to the occupants of two dark coloured cars, which were parked in proximity to the court. The drivers had then flashed their vehicle lights.
The police believe that Charles may have left in one of the cars, Greene had reported.
Meanwhile the mother of the fugitive has since denied any knowledge of whereabouts and said she was at work when her son made his court appearance. After work, the woman said, she went to meet her daughter and another son at Camp Street prison where they awaited Skinny’s return from Sparendaam to send in food for him.
After waiting for some time, she said, she was informed that her son had escaped. The woman also denied moving out from her home and said she was simply not at home at the time the Joint Services visited. She had said that she go to the police station yesterday as she had heard that she was wanted for questioning.
This newspaper could not confirm whether the woman had done so up to press time last night.
Comments
About Comments
-
We thank all readers who have contributed to this site since its relaunch. This section of the website is intended to provide a forum for reasoned and reasonable debate on the newspaper's content and we hope that readers make full use of it as many have already done.
- The comments section is an extension of the newspaper and what it has become well known for over its history: accuracy, balance and fairness.
- In recent weeks a large proportion of the comments posted have contained attacks on other users, slander, coarse language and profanity. Comments of these types will be deleted.
- Comments which contain gratuitous and incendiary references to race and ethnicity will be struck.
- We reserve the right to edit/delete comments for length, any libel and taste. We moderate all comments so be patient while your message waits to be approved.
- Curious about the little images next to each commenter's name ? Go here and sign up using the same email address you used to register for Stabroeknews.com then upload your image and confirm it.
31 Responses to “Skinny reportedly seen in unnamed rural area”
Got something to say?
More News
- More TV for Linden motion defeated by gov’t - 63 Comments
- Man found murdered in bed - 41 Comments
- James McAllister loses seat - 36 Comments
- Shot taxi driver to undergo surgery - 8 Comments
- National Gallery mourns passing of Agnes Jones - 8 Comments
- $700M spent to cope with rainy season -Persaud - 7 Comments
- 1,058 in Camp St jail at end of Sept - 20 Comments
- Brickdam lock-ups death awaiting DPP decision - 6 Comments
- Domestic abuse must not be excused as ‘family matter’ – Manickchand - 7 Comments
- Youth jumped into trench in futile bid to evade stabbing - 19 Comments
- Jagdeo to meet USAID officials in Washington - 9 Comments
- Baksh lists reasons for possible A-levels end - 9 Comments
- All new guns undergo ballistics – Rohee - 8 Comments
- 420 for labour force after training at GTI - 4 Comments
- Left alone baby died of blunt trauma - 24 Comments

motherofmine
on July 1st, 2008 6:41 amok keystone cops….ok give us a brake on this one, God this is sounding so funny i could laugh my self to sleep…..this a good one for NO BIG THING
[Reply to this]
amen-ra
on July 1st, 2008 6:47 amWhy do the police still feed us this foolishness that skinny excaped through a 7incehe by two and half space, any one with good sense know that’s too small space for one to escape, and also the joint forces keep harrasing innocent youths on suspicion of harboring an escaped prisioner with no substantial evidence to prove that they did. I hope the joint forces quickly apprehend this guy before any serious crime is commited by him.
[Reply to this]
ms guyana
In reply to the above comment on July 1st, 2008 3:55 pm:because we like nancy story in Guyana
[Reply to this]
gtagricola
In reply to the above comment on July 1st, 2008 5:25 pm:good comment, this wrongful harassment been going on for a very ery long time only now it is coming to light with guyana police fake cops
[Reply to this]
bvbocan
on July 1st, 2008 7:34 ammaybe skinny has now teamed up with fineman and on their way to meet slimz
[Reply to this]
ankoko
on July 1st, 2008 7:46 amWhy are we being fed this line that a man, any man can pass through a space of 7 inches by two and one half inches? I doubt that anyone can do that! SN- maybe you ‘writing out of context?’ Can you publish a picture of ‘the hole’
Do civil servants now have to be found guilty to be interdicted from duty? Used to be that once charged with certain levels of crimes gov’t employees were interdicted from duty pending the outcome of the trial which would determine whether they were terminated or reinstated.
It is obvious that someone didn’t do their job. It shouldn’t need rocket science to find out who. That should have been done already, as it is almost a week since the ‘escape’ happened. The whodunit should have been found already and being disciplined.
One week and nothing from the bigger officials like the minister, secretariat secretary person the president. Why only the “acting” Commissioner (acting emphasised) of Police left pedalling this story of a man passing through a -what size hole?
Seriously this incident only strengthens the need for serious reform in the law enforcement sector. The old addage of ‘preventing and detecting crime’ need to be adhered to and more importantly a system of policing the police is needed. An internal affairs section is needed and not in name only. It must police the police and the incompetent/crooked ones removed in order for the GPF to regain and maintain any integrity and trust by the citizenry. The activities of ex-police officers should be looked into among other things. There should be strict pre employment screenings and requirements. Most of all - The salary structure needs overhauling to make the profession attractive to better qualified persons.
[Reply to this]
Williebee
on July 1st, 2008 8:35 amStop insulting our intelligence.It is not only Guyanese living in Guyana read this paper.
Skinny would have to be a tiny puppy to get through a 7 x1 inch hole.Publish a pic of the ‘hole’
Interdict those slackers who call themselves policemen.
I too hope to see this on ‘NO BIG TING” this year.
[Reply to this]
Chemist
on July 1st, 2008 8:53 amFirst it was “fineman”, now “skinny”, whats up with these “bony” guys? Aren’t the authorities getting a hang of the situation? They claimed “skinny escaped through a “small hole in the floor”, isn’t the inspector in charge in prison yet for negligence. A commission of inquiry should be held to prevent this from happening again. It is the authorities fault, stop terrorising the public trying to find criminals you allow to escape.
[Reply to this]
raulcedras
on July 1st, 2008 9:00 amMan we should be making a movie about the prezident of guyana & his minister & his police commissioner & his dogs & cats & puppies. We will win an academy award for that movie.
[Reply to this]
Roula
on July 1st, 2008 9:50 amIt’s can only happened in Guyana!
[Reply to this]
Roula
In reply to the above comment on July 1st, 2008 9:53 am:It can only happened in Guyana!
[Reply to this]
La vie est bonne!
on July 1st, 2008 9:54 amSomeone said they saw skinny and fineman in barbados ha ha ha.
[Reply to this]
GT_BANA
on July 1st, 2008 9:56 amI agree with you all. That hole is a bit too small for him to sneak through. I believe this guy escaped from some other way or he probably just walked right out the front door.
[Reply to this]
gtagricola
In reply to the above comment on July 1st, 2008 5:34 pm:Sorry to say someone let skinny go because they know he did not kill Sawh. Or is skinny stll alive? ?Because that hole is too small.
[Reply to this]
realgirl_tessa
on July 1st, 2008 10:07 amit’s 7 inch by 2 1/2 feet well according to kaieteur new
[Reply to this]
popeoplefedup
on July 1st, 2008 10:10 amI wish to engage in the parodying here, but I am gullible enough to believe that Skinny will shortly appear riddled with bullets.
[Reply to this]
gtagricola
In reply to the above comment on July 1st, 2008 5:36 pm:if he is not already riddle with bullets and buried somewhere asked the policemen at Leonora police station
[Reply to this]
bgsbny
on July 1st, 2008 10:30 am……. that the ” dailies ” are now in a frantic mode to be in front of each of the other three,, should be no surprise to anyone as they are each faced with competition in a very limited market of readers,, the electronic media is also in the mix with the frenzy of the added level of security,, or lack there of ,, which has been added to the already high octane level of fear ,, which is now a psychological torment on the people of Gy ,, this is the reason for lots of ” mindlessness ” as it pervades with out hindrance ,, if one care to look at the big picture of what obtains iin GY ,, in every sphere /realm of life it would be very easy to see how real a phenomenon this is ,, carelessness abounds ! in Gy ,, some of the comments above is in disbelief of what was reported about the size of the hole which Skinny slipped through,, the waterfalls paper is now saying that the measurement of the hole is 7 ,, seven inches by two and a half foot ,, lots was said here in this forum by many who,, rather than waiting b4 their rush to judgement of Jagdeo ,, the police ,, the PPP ,, in their speculation ,, many of whom,, do so only because they have access to a computer ,, and this is the behavior of alarmists who are fanning the embers to start a fire ,, it is not surprising,, here’s something i read which Mark Twain said,,
“Get your fact first,, and then you can distort ‘em as you please ” !…..
does it not make u feel so very stupid ????????
[Reply to this]
Fulleyes
In reply to the above comment on July 2nd, 2008 3:06 am:We (all in the forum that mentioned 7×2.5) got our information from SN we were not jumping to conclusions. The acting police commisioner said it we did not believe it but we ran with it. Why are you getting all bent out of shape? Are you the so called contractor that is now being blamed for constructing the floors of wood instead of concrete?
[Reply to this]
ALL_GT
on July 1st, 2008 10:33 amWhat this incident also demonstrates is the total disregard for the prisoners well being. Within the time frame from their court appearance to the escape discovery, it appears that no one visited the prisoners to offer a drink of water or provided the men with meals. I am sure the officer in charge and his group had some chinese fried rice and washed it down with a few cold ones as the prisoners languished in the little cell in stiffling heat, hungry and thirsty.
[Reply to this]
gtagricola
In reply to the above comment on July 1st, 2008 5:40 pm:this is so true when food is taken by prisoners family the prisoners never get it.
[Reply to this]
HyBriD
on July 1st, 2008 11:03 amStabroek News - “Charles used a seven inch by two and half inch opening to escape, the police said.”
KaieteurNews - “Charles escaped last Wednesday by using a seven inch by two and a half foot opening in the wooden section of the floor after he was placed in the lock-ups following a court hearing.”
Hhmm…I trust KaieteurNews’ accuracy on this one. Seven inches x 2.5 feet is just enough for a little person like skinny to squeeze through.
[Reply to this]
dawning
on July 1st, 2008 11:23 amThirty-three prisoners, including Charles and David Leander called `Biscuit’, were escorted from the George-town prisons to the Sparen-daam police station with the relevant escort as dictated by the standing orders.
My question is - with the type of security or lack thereof, don’t you think we need to transport fewer prisoners at a time?
I think thirty-three is a bit much to manage —knowing what “security” means in Guyana!
[Reply to this]
Nuff
on July 1st, 2008 1:29 pm7.5″X2″ hole.
I guess that’s why he’s called Skinny. They should have fed him some red meat in jail.
Houdini couldn’t hold a candle to Skinny.
[Reply to this]
HyBriD
In reply to the above comment on July 1st, 2008 3:33 pm:Hahaha.
[Reply to this]
WESTBANKCHIC
on July 1st, 2008 5:00 pmI’ve got to say - what ludicrous reporting!
Fineman reportedly see in an UNnamed rural area? Do you know how ridiculous this is?
What’s the point of carrying a story if the W (WHERE) is missing?
The answer to this is that “Talented and Smart Skinny” …was seen in Neverland.
[Reply to this]
bgsbny
In reply to the above comment on July 1st, 2008 6:18 pm:……. how very sad that “talented and smart skinny ” could not use his smarts an talent to construct a life of worth !
[Reply to this]
GTMYHOME
In reply to the above comment on July 1st, 2008 11:48 pm:You are bitter!
cking12
on July 1st, 2008 6:11 pmLogics, when the GPF and the GDP fails to meet their goals, they always finds something to destract the citizens of Guyana, explaining that, they were unable to capture “fineman”, and unable to say who did the killings at Lindo’s Creek, now everyone will be focused on the recapturing of “skinny” what a havoc and a mess of the GDP and GPF, I certainly think that some employees of these two organizations should be sent home and new organizations formed.
[Reply to this]
WESTBANKCHIC
In reply to the above comment on July 3rd, 2008 11:23 am:I so agree with you Cking12.
More needs to be done in terms of training the members of the police force and the military.
Put pressure on the heads - and if they can’t do the job - send them packing.
Its quite embarrassing - especially since the population is below 800.000.
So who do you say the Bin Laden of Guyana …Skinny or Fineman?
[Reply to this]
soldier_girl
on July 4th, 2008 9:20 pmHell after this year the population will be a lot less it might be a record year for the police. In a few more years there will not be a need for the police because there will be no tax payers left in guyana to pay their salaries.
[Reply to this]