However, when pressed for details, he acknowledged that at least one prisoner was armed with a gun when caught.
The Croix-des-Bouquet Civil Prison, built by Canada in 2012, held 899 inmates at the time of the break out, some 130 over its capacity.
It was Haiti’s largest prison escape since 2010, when more than 4,200 inmates fled the notorious National Penitentiary in downtown Port-au-Prince in the aftermath of an earthquake that devastated the capital. More than three-quarters of them remain at large, including alleged gang members and serious criminals.
Sanon said he plans to demolish the National Penitentiary, which is the country’s oldest and largest prison. Built to hold up to 1,000 inmates, it currently houses 4,338. Plans are for inmates to be sent to other prisons until three new ones are ready, including one planned for Haiti’s central plateau.
“We have to do this,” Sanon said. “It is not a good idea to have the jail in the city so close to people. It’s a matter of safety.”
At Croix-des-Bouquet, steps are being taken to improve security. Authorities suspended at least 18 officials, including several guards and the Croix-des-Bouquets police chief and its prosecutor.
Workers have started to lay down wiring for security cameras at the prison, and officials say they soon will place ankle monitors on the most dangerous inmates there, a plan they say will be implemented in other prisons as well.
Now with a new director and some new guards, the Croix-des-Bouquets prison appeared calm last week, when AP journalists were granted a rare, but restricted, tour. An official pointed out “Europe” block — each of the blocks is named for a continent — which had housed most of the escapees. Inmates called to the journalists, saying they wanted to be interviewed about what happened but the authorities would not allow it. Guards declined to speak.
Jean Sala Augustave, in one of his first acts as the new director, recently posted notices warning guards that they are prohibited from switching shifts or transferring detainees to another cell without previous authorization, hoping to avoid the type of collusion that may have played a role in the Aug. 10 breakout.
Inel Torchon, the new prosecutor for the district, told the AP that he plans to review the cases of all inmates to help ease overcrowding.
Haiti’s corrupt and overwhelmed justice system long has forced many suspects to linger in prison without charges. Often, inmates spend more time waiting for trial than what they would serve if sentenced for a crime.
“I’m going to do my best to bring every prisoner to court, and they’re going to know the status of their case,” he said.
