The 47-year-old man, who had been a prisoner undergoing treatment at Hippocrates Hospital in Thessaloniki, escaped on Clean Monday. He was arrested on Wednesday during a police operation in a Roma settlement in Diavata, Thessaloniki. The escape occurred after he had been transferred to the hospital for medical examinations due to reported health issues but was found to have fled from the balcony of his room.

Prior to his escape, the inmate had been arrested and was serving a sentence of 4 years and 7 months for aggravated theft, disrupting transportation security, and resisting arrest, following a judicial decision issued by a Thessaloniki court. Reports indicate that he escaped shortly after being hospitalized, leading to an intensive search and subsequent police operation that successfully recaptured him.

This incident raises concerns regarding security protocols for prisoners in medical facilities and the potential risks of allowing such individuals access to treatment outside secure facilities. The local authorities will likely review these security measures to prevent future escapes, emphasizing the balance between the healthcare needs of inmates and public safety.