He was due to be sent to Beau Bassin Central Prison on Thursday, September 28. Jerry Ricardo Sonah, known as Vicky, a 40-year-old pig farmer, pushed two police officers escorting him to the Pamplemousses courthouse before fleeing. The resident of Batterie Cassée, Roche Bois had been arrested by members of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of Terre-Rouge in connection with a motorcycle theft. After 24 hours on the run, the suspect was apprehended at the Riche Terre cemetery on Friday morning, September 29. He offered no resistance.
Ricardo Sonah’s arrest dates to Friday September 15. It concerns the theft of a Suzuki motorcycle in the Riche-Terre region. The two-wheeled machine was recovered in parts from his home in Roche-Bois on the day of his arrest. He was held in a cell at the Terre-Rouge police station until Monday September 25, when he was transferred to the Piton detention center. The suspect gave his address as Cité EDC, Pamplemousses, which is in fact his father’s address.
On the morning of Thursday September 28, Ricardo Sonah was brought before the Pamplemousses court at around 11.10 a.m. on a provisional charge of theft of a Suzuki motorcycle. The offence was committed in the parking areas of Mahogany Mall in Beau-Plan. The suspect fled from the entrance to the courthouse, after shoving two police officers who were taking him to court. A chase ensued. The suspect entered a banana plantation and a bush in the Canton Nancy river before disappearing.
An extensive search operation was launched, involving officers from the Northern Division’s Criminal Investigation Division, the Divisional Crime Intelligence Unit and elements of the Northern Division’s Metropolitan Police. At the time of his escape, he was wearing a red T-shirt, grey shorts and a pair of sandals.
After his arrest on Friday September 29, he was taken to the Pamplemousses police station for questioning. He told the police that he had escaped because he had to feed his cattle on a farm in Saint Martin. This Saturday morning, September 30, he will be brought before the Bail and Remand Court (BRC) in Port-Louis on a provisional charge of “escaped from legal custody”.
