Police probe Moroccan man’s escape and court escort

Lithuanian police have opened a criminal investigation into a Moroccan national who escaped from a Vilnius court, while an internal review will examine how officers escorted him, LRT reported. A court is due to deliver its verdict in the theft case on October 26.

The Police Department said on Wednesday that the investigation concerns the escape of a prisoner. It was opened under a provision that allows a prison sentence of up to five years for an escape involving violence or significant property damage to the institution holding the person.

Vilnius County Police spokeswoman Julija Samorokovskaja told BNS that the defendant pushed an officer as he escaped. The circumstances of the incident and the officers’ actions will be established during the investigation and internal review, she said.

Issam Toubali, born in 2003, was being escorted by two Vilnius County Police officers. He fled the courtyard of Vilnius City District Court at about 4 p.m. and was arrested at around 9:15 p.m. on Debesijos Street in the capital. He is being held at a police detention facility.

The court said the hearing had ended and Toubali had already been taken outside the building when he escaped. The case was heard under a shortened evidence examination procedure, and the verdict is scheduled for October 26. The court has provided police with requested video recordings.

Toubali is accused of breaking into a shop on May 24 and stealing slightly more than 1,700 euros from a cash register. He has admitted guilt. He had been held on remand at Vilnius Prison since August 3.

Interior Minister Martynas Katelynas said he would seek a comprehensive assessment of the officers’ actions, including the escort, the search and decisions by police leadership. He said Toubali came to Lithuania to study, but was removed from the student register in June and lost his residence permit.