A Russian prisoner who escaped from a hospital in Bruges in June has been extradited to Belgium, his lawyer has confirmed to Belga news agency. The man is now in custody in connection with the escape and for unlawful possession of a weapon.
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Prisoner who fled Bruges hospital caught in France and extradited
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The incident took place on the morning of 5 June at AZ Sint-Jan hospital. The man had been transferred to the hospital from Bruges prison for a medical procedure. While changing his clothes, he is said to have threatened guards with a sharp object and forced them to hand over the keys to his handcuffs.
Two months after his escape, he was apprehended in Englos, northern France.
The Bruges investigating judge initiated proceedings to have him extradited to Belgium. The man, of Chechen origin, was serving a 40-month custodial sentence for robbery with violence, which was due to end in March 2028.
The man did not resist extradition and arrived in Belgium last Monday. Following questioning, the investigating judge decided to remand him in custody.
According to his lawyer, Randall Huysentruyt, the escape was not planned. “It was a spur-of-the-moment decision following a discussion about his ankle monitor,” he said.
