3 men have absconded from a detention centre in the West Flemish city of Kortrijk. A detention centre is similar to a low security prison in that those being held there can enter and leave freely. They require permission to do so. However, inside the building and its grounds inmate are able to move around more freely than they would be able to if they were being held at a prison.
The 3 men that escaped from the detention centre in Kortrijk on Monday night were able to do so after forced window locks, climbed out of a window and got into a vehicle that was waiting for them outside. Prior to their escape there had been no issues with the men’s behaviour at the centre and they were even allowed out during the day to go to work.
At around 11pm on Monday, the team that works the night shift at the centre noticed that three inmates had absconded. The three climbed out of a window after forcing open the window locks and were able to make their escape in a cvar that was waiting for them outside the Prisons Service Spokewoman Kathleen Van De Vijver told VRT News.
The centre’s governor Els Deloof "It can’t be anything other than them having acted on impulse. Really, it is quite absurd. All 3 have jobs and are doing well. They have been at the centre for a while. They went out every day to go to work. They did yesterday too. We don’t yet know what possessed them. They had been out during the day and could just as well have stayed out after they’d left work”.
If the 3 men are caught they will serve the rest of their sentence in prison and will not return to a detention centre.