A prisoner who escaped from New Amsterdam Prison while working under supervision has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to escaping from lawful custody.

Budnarine Persaud, called “Kevin,” a 28-year-old fisherman from Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, appeared via Zoom before Magistrate Matthias at the Albion Magistrate’s Court on Friday, October 2.

Persaud escaped on September 21 and was arrested two days later.

According to the Guyana Prison Service’s initial report, he fled at approximately 1 p.m. while working at the prison’s new administrative building with three other inmates under the supervision of a prison officer.

At the time, Persaud was serving a 24-month sentence for simple larceny and was scheduled for release on November 5, 2027.

Following the escape, the Prison Service launched an investigation and said anyone found to have neglected their duties would be held accountable.

The Prison Service and the Guyana Police Force worked to locate Persaud before his arrest on September 23.