A prisoner who evaded authorities with another convict for almost nine months has pleaded guilty to a charge of escaping prison in May last year. 

Suitupe Faamoe Paufai entered his guilty plea when he appeared before Judge Leota Raymond Schuster on Tuesday.

According to the charge read in Court, between May 7, 2019 to February 6, 2020 while Paufai was a prisoner at the then Tafaigata jail he escaped from the prison. 

Judge Leota queried prosecution when did the prisoner escape. 

He asked if the Police did not know when Paufai went missing from prison. 

In response, Attorney General’s Office lawyer Silupevaelei Rexona Titi said the charge states that between May 7, 2019 to February 6, 2020. 

The matter was then adjourned to April 17 for sentencing. 

The Judge added that hopefully by then Police will know the exact date the prisoner escaped. 

The Samoa Prisons and Correction Services captured Paufai earlier in February after his family handed him over to the authority. 

From the villages of Vailuutai, Faleatiu and Fagamalo Savai’i, the 59-year-old convict was serving time for murder and possession of narcotics when he escaped. 

Paufai was alleged spotted in a plantation during the biggest drug bust by Police in November last year where more than 10,000 marijuana plants were seized.

According to Police Commissioner Fuiavaili'ili Egon Keil at that time, Paufai was seen by the Police but managed to evade authorities along with another suspect.