PARAMARIBO--The Dutch national who escaped from prison earlier this month had help from his younger brother, investigations have indicated. Gerel Lusiano Palm ran from the Duisburglaan Penitentiary on March 3, into a waiting car that has since turned out to be registered in his brother’s name. Neither man has been caught yet.
Palm (34) was arrested by police in Suriname on Wednesday, March 1, at the request of Dutch authorities. He is the prime suspect in a shooting that took place in Noordeloos, a small village in South Holland, on Saturday night, December 10, 2016. A passing motorist had called police after seeing one of the victims – a 35-year-old Rotterdammer – lying on the roadside; the second victim – 28, also from Rotterdam – was found a couple of metres further down in a meadow. Both had suffered gunshot wounds and were transported to hospital.
But he managed to escape just days before he was to be handed to the Netherlands to stand trial for attempted murder, attempted manslaughter and illegal gun possession. According to reports from the penitentiary, while out of his cell on his way to meet with his attorney, Palm asked to go to the toilet. He then asked to see the guard in charge; once he was inside his office, he pulled a gun from under his shirt, held the guard at gunpoint, took his gun and then managed to run out of the penitentiary.
The escape has raised eyebrows, since – according to sources within the penal system – it is nearly impossible to escape without inside help from the high-walled, heavily guarded Duisburglaan prison located in Flora on the outskirts of Paramaribo.
Police are coordinating with prison management to carry out an internal investigation into how Palm escaped and whether he had help from prison staff. Prison director Aniel Ramadhin has promised strict measures against any staff member who is found to have been involved.
