Measles hospitalises notorious prison escapee

A notorious prison escapee, Aniseko Vaelei, is in a critical condition due to measles.

He has been transferred to the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital for treatment, the Court has heard. 

This was confirmed by prosecutor and Attorney General’s Office lawyer, Silupevaelei Rexona Titi, in the District Court on Tuesday.

Vaelei was due to appear in Court to enter his plea for escaping Tanumalala prison in October with co-defendant Lauititi Tualima.

Vaelei did not appear in Court.

Tualima has already pleaded guilty for escaping from prison. 

Silupevaelei said the Prisons Authority had informed her about Vaelei's condition through an email.

“I received an email from the prison that Aniseko is in critical condition and was taken to hospital last night and is suspected to have caught measles,” the prosecutor told the Court. 

Judge Alalatoa Rosella Papali’i adjourned the matter on the 6^th March to sentence Tualima and for Vaelei to make his appearance. 

Vaelei was recently sentenced to 10 years in imprison for a chain of aggravated robbery that he committed when he escaped prison in February with escapee Pati Chong Nee.

Last week the Director General of Health, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri confirmed that there were three prisoners that had measles. 

He said the prison at Tanumalala were the first group that health team responded to. 

A lawyer had also told the Court then that he was unable to see his client at Tanumalala because of access restriction to the prison facility due to measles. 

 Attempts to get a comment from prisons authority were unsuccessful.