Overview:
A convicted killer with a history of violent crimes and multiple prison escapes remains on the run after fleeing the Koror jail Monday afternoon. Police are warning residents not to approach the inmate and to report any sightings immediately as concerns grow over a series of prison escapes in recent months.
Authorities launch search as repeat escapee with violent record evades capture
By: L. N. Reklai
KOROR, Palau — A convicted murderer and repeat escapee remains on the run after fleeing custody Monday afternoon, raising renewed concerns about prison security following a string of inmate escapes over the past eight months.
Officials from the Bureau of Public Safety confirmed that inmate Amador Osima escaped from the Koror jail on March 16 at about 4:11 p.m. Authorities said he was last seen shirtless and wearing forest-green shorts.
Police warned the public not to approach Osima if he is spotted. Instead, residents are urged to immediately contact law enforcement with any information that could lead to his capture.
Despite his small stature — about 4 feet, 8 inches tall and weighing roughly 100 pounds — officials caution that Osima is considered dangerous due to his violent criminal history.
Osima was previously convicted of second-degree murder, after hacking a woman with a machete along a roadside. His record also includes convictions for rape and the sodomy of a child, as well as multiple prior escapes from the Koror jail.
Authorities have not released details about how Osima managed to escape in broad daylight, and no further specifics about the incident were immediately available.
The latest escape comes amid broader concerns about detention conditions and security at the facility. Osima’s case marks the fourth prisoner escape reported within the last eight months, according to officials.
Police have previously attributed earlier escape incidents to overcrowding at the jail and limited manpower. Authorities also said investigations would be conducted following those incidents, but no public reports have been released detailing the findings.
Meanwhile, law enforcement officials are urging the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity or sightings that may help locate the escapee.