During a Transfer: Two Inmates Suspected of Damaging a Van

An unusual incident occurred on Tuesday around 8:45 AM in a prisoner transfer van heading to the Rivière-Noire District Court. Two out of the four inmates on board are suspected of attempting to drill a hole through the vehicle's body, causing damage.

The van was being driven by a police officer accompanied by a sergeant in charge of the escort. The first two inmates were picked up from the high-security prison in the east, and then the vehicle headed to Beau-Bassin prison to collect the other two.

While the driver was waiting for them, he heard a noise coming from the back of the van. Together with his colleague, he checked and found that a sheet of metal had been pierced and a window in the inmates' compartment was broken. A makeshift metal tool was found near the window.

When questioned, the two inmates denied any involvement in the damage. "We don't know anything about it!" They were informed that they would have to answer for the damage to a government vehicle. The value of the damages has not yet been estimated, but the window and the metal wall will need to be replaced. The police have launched an investigation.