Sleiman: escape by Islamists from Roumieh prison unacceptable

President Michel Sleiman voiced dismay Saturday over the escape of three Islamists from Lebanon’s Roumieh prison and said staff at the facility should be held accountable for negligence. “The escape that happened in Roumieh prison is unacceptable, particularly that it comes at a time when the military and security forces have regained control over the chaos in some areas [of the country],” Sleiman, who voiced dismay over the incident, said, according to a statement from his office. A senior officer told The Daily Star Friday that three Fatah al-Islam inmates escaped Lebanon’s largest detention facility but it is still undetermined when they actually fled. Sleiman, whose comments came during a meeting with the country’s police chief, said staff at the facility should be held accountable. “The force tasked with security at the prison should bear the responsibility because it is unacceptable for an escape to go unnoticed and for the officials not to be held responsible for such negligence,” Sleiman said. Media reports Friday pointed to the possibility that the three inmates escaped about a month ago and that their absence only came to light after prison guards went searching for one of the men over a court date. Inmates are being questioned over the breakout and the police began Friday a manhunt around the forested hills surrounding Roumieh. According to the statement Saturday, Sleiman asked Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi to launch an investigation into the incident and take the necessary steps to apprehend the prisoners. He also asked the Interior Ministry and the military judiciary to uphold their duties in this matter. Islamist prisoners have been held in Roumieh for several years over suspected links to Fatah al-Islam, which fought the Lebanese Army in the north Lebanon Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared in 2007. Many of the prisoners have been held without charge. The Daily Star