Samoa’s most wanted criminal, Pati Chong Nee, continues to evade authorities and remains on the run after more than three months.

Chong Nee and partner-in-crime Aniseko Vaelei – who are both serving time for a string of burglaries and robberies – dashed for freedom on January 20, 2019 during a church service at the Tafaigata Prison.

Vaelei was recaptured by the Police a month later with $10,000 tala cash, which is believed to be proceeds from robberies they did targeting shops in a number of Apia suburbs.

Since the recapture of the convicted criminal in February, there has been no further updates from the Ministries of Police and Prisons and Correctional Services on their investigations into the prisoner's whereabouts, and if they are following any leads that would lead to his recapture. 

However, the Samoa Police Service did issue a warning last month that any member of the public harbouring an escapee with the charged and dealt with by the law. It is not known if the Police issued the warning because they believe there are members of the public harbouring the criminal. 

“We urge members of the public to contact the Police if they have any information that could lead to the capture of Chong Nee," the Police stated.

The on-the-run criminal is 25-years-old and is from the villages of Aleisa and Vaitele Fou and was serving time for theft and burglary before he escaped from prison.