North Fraser prison escapes spark investigation

B.C.'s solicitor general is watching for the results of an internal investigation into the second escape from a high-securityjail in less thana year.

Since November, two prisoners have walked out the front door of the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam by posing as other people.

In the first escape in the history of the seven-year-old facility last November, alleged organized crime leader Omid Tahvili bribed a security guard to provide him with a janitor's uniform and lead him out the prison doors.

In the second escape, prisoner Dean Sykes posed as another prisoner, who was scheduled to be released, and after attending a court hearing, walked out the prison doors a free man on Tuesday. Sykes was arrested on Friday in Hope.

"In both these cases, we need to consider the fact that there was the human element involved," Solicitor General John van Dongen said on Friday.

The solicitor general said an internal investigation into the first escape has already been completed and its five recommendations have already been implemented.

The investigation into the second escape will focus on how the guards handle the transfer of prisoners to and from local court hearings.

The North Fraser Pretrial Centre houses about 600 inmates; as many as 100 are transferred to and from courts and other facilities each day, said van Dongen.

"Certainly security is ourNo. 1 concern, and we will ensure that all of the recommendations from the internal review will be implemented," he said.