TIRANA, May 23 – Mikel Kasa, a 28-year-old man in police custody and on trial for drug trafficking and kidnapping, escaped a Vlora courtroom on Wednesday, drawing attention to lack of proper security in institutions dealing with high-risk individuals.
During his trial Kasa was left without cuffs, while, in a video showing the escape that went viral online, he can be seen running through the door and down two floors with couple policemen behind him before he took to the city streets.
Following the escape, Vlora police forces began a manhunt to chase him down, reportedly stopping and thoroughly checking all vehicles leaving the city.
Kasa was given five years in prison, but his sentence was lowered to 3-4 years by pleading guilty and agreeing to a speedy trial.
After Kasa’s escape, the head of Vlora’s Court Skender Haluci told local media the city’s court lacks proper security.
According to Haluci’s statement, law enforcement officials have constantly experienced security problems, while, in this case, it was the court’s driver who tried to stop Kasa from escaping the building.
“There were only two policemen in the courtroom. There is no other security personnel in this environment, despite my frequent requests. We ask Albanian authorities to undertake the necessary measures,” Haluci said.
Albania’s former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, on the other hand, shared the escape video on Facebook and said “the kidnapper’s escape” was a “spectacular win for criminal power.”
