8 Jul 2013

Investigation into American Samoa prison escape begins

3:08 pm on 8 July 2013

Police in American Samoa are investigating how two inmates managed to obtain a hacksaw and escape from the territory's prison last week.

According to the Department of Public Safety, Ryan Pite and John Ioane Faimata used a hack saw to cut through their cell and then crawl to freedom.

Guards were unaware they had escaped until they were informed by a security guard at the American Samoa Community College who spotted them heading into bush behind the college.

The two men have been recaptured and are now being held in maximum security cells.