France (BN24) – A French prisoner has escaped from Lyon-Corbas prison by concealing himself inside a fellow inmate’s bag as the other man was being released, officials confirmed Saturday.
According to broadcaster BFMTV, the daring escape took place on Friday at the overcrowded facility in southeastern France.
In a statement to AFP, the French prison service said the man “took advantage of the liberation of his fellow inmate to hide himself in his luggage and get out.”
The fugitive, who was reportedly serving multiple sentences and is under investigation in a case linked to organized crime, remains at large.
Prosecutors have opened a judicial inquiry into suspected “escape as part of an organized gang and criminal conspiracy,” local media reported.
The Lyon Bar Association last month raised concerns over severe overcrowding at Lyon-Corbas, which has been holding nearly double its intended population. As of May 1, the prison housed about 1,200 detainees despite having capacity for only 678, BFMTV said.
Prison authorities have launched an internal investigation into how the man was able to evade security checks and leave the facility undetected.
