Skopje, 22 July 2024 (MIA) — An unannounced inspection in the Skopje prison on July 19 found 11 inmates missing from their cells, Directorate for Execution of Sanctions acting director Aleksandar Pandov told a news conference Monday.

The list of inmates the prison police gave the inspectors dixd not match the actual situation in the open and semi-open wards nor in the prison's laundry room, either.

According to Pandov, four inmates were on the run.

He also said there had been cases of prisoners leaving the jail and coming back whenever they wanted to.

The prison officers had told the inspectors that prison warden Filip Andov Sokol had issued a verbal order to transfer the inmates. Pandov said he would ask for the prison warden to be dismissed.

Pandov also said no inspection of the correctional facility had been made in the past seven years. At the moment, he added, two officers were obtaining the prison's video surveillance footage. mr/