Protus Bahati alias Ali was arrested two weeks ago after allegedly committing several criminal activities in and outside Eldoret town while accompanied with others who are still at large.
The suspect was shot by police when he attempted to escape while leading police officers to the gang’s hideout in Langas estate, about four kilometres from the town centre.
Police took him to the hospital to seek treatment for the bullet wounds he sustained and was admitted. He was chained to his bed under the surveillance of a police officer. But yesterday, police could not explain his escape, only saying he disappeared when a security officer on guard left for a while.
According to a patient whose bed is next to the suspect’s, he saw him struggling with the handcuffs immediately the officer left the ward.
Eldoret West OCPD Erastus Muthamia said the officer returned to find the bed empty before he raised alarm.
“He had a bullet wound on his stomach and that is why the officers took him there for treatment. Unfortunately he escaped before facing charges in court,” said Muthamia. “After mounting a search in the hospital’s premises, we realised he had escaped at around 5am on Monday.”
He appealed to the public and medical personnel to be on the lookout and report to the police if they come across the suspect seeking treatment. “He was in bad shape and he still requires treatment. So we are appealing to anyone with information on his whereabouts to notify us immediately,” he said.
traced movements
The OCPD also said the public could also contact police for any other security related issue.
“We have meanwhile launched a manhunt for him as well as investigating how he escaped,” he said.
Muthamia said the suspect is a member of a gang that has been staging robberies within Uasin Gishu County.
“They then sell stolen goods to neighbouring towns like Turbo, Kitale and Webuye,” he added.
The OCPD revealed that the police got information from the public that a group of armed criminals were terrorising them at night.
Police started tracing their movements and managed to catch up with the suspect who escaped.
-Standard Digital
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