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An MP expressed astonishment at the accidental release of an asylum seeker from prison, labeling it a “mind-blowing” blunder. Hadush Kebatu, an Ethiopian national, had been serving a 12-month sentence at HMP Chelmsford for sexually assaulting a girl and a woman in Epping, Essex. However, he was mistakenly set free on Friday instead of being deported, and ended up boarding a train bound for London.
The arrest of Kebatu in July had sparked protests outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, where he had been living after arriving in the UK by boat. He was subsequently sentenced to 12 months in jail at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court. A nationwide manhunt has been launched for the 41-year-old, who claims to be 38, and was last seen in a grey tracksuit in the city center after boarding a train at Chelmsford station due to an error by the Prison Service.
Essex Police reported that the search for Kebatu was ongoing and that officers had been working tirelessly to track his movements, including reviewing hours of CCTV footage. A spokesperson for the Prison Service stated that they were urgently collaborating with the police to return Kebatu to custody, emphasizing that public protection was their top priority. Liberal Democrat MP Marie Goldman called for a comprehensive and swift public inquiry into the mistake, urging Essex Police to be given all necessary resources to capture Kebatu and prevent such errors from occurring in the future.
Stephen Robinson, the Liberal Democrat leader of Chelmsford City Council, demanded the prompt location and deportation of Kebatu, describing the situation as outrageous. Justice Secretary David Lammy expressed his appall and anger on behalf of the public, while Sir Keir Starmer deemed the release as completely unacceptable. Conservative MP Neil Hudson, who had previously called for the closure of The Bell Hotel, held top officials such as the justice secretary, home secretary, and prime minister accountable for the blunder surrounding Kebatu’s mistaken release after 108 days of erroneous imprisonment
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