Christine Kay
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Sep 30/02) - After being at large for more than four days, Mosesee Nakashook has been apprehended and sent back to Baffin Correctional Centre.

He was found at a local residence in Iqaluit near the 400 house area on Sept. 23 at about 3:50 p.m.

Sgt. Hopkins of the Iqaluit RCMP detachment said because it would be extremely hard to prove, aiding and abetting charges won't be laid against any residents of the 400 area house.

"We don't know the circumstances of how he got to that particular house. We probably won't follow up on it," said Hopkins.

Nakashook, 33, was on remand awaiting trial for aggravated assault charges at BCC before he escaped.

Police said Nakashook's crime was serious enough for him to be considered dangerous. RCMP officers searched tents, houses and even posted pictures to aid in finding the escaped inmate. The house he was found at was one they had searched before.

An investigation into the escape is now being conducted at BCC. If any security breaches are found, steps will be taken to remedy them, said Annette Bourgeois, press secretary to Premier Paul Okalik, who also serves as Minister of Justice.

"Each incident does have an investigation.

"If there's a security breach -- it could be a staff issue -- changes that need to be made are made," said Bourgeois.

The Government of Nunavut is reluctant to release any details on proposed changes or improvements to security at BCC. Bourgeois said as much as she hates to say it, there needs to be some secrecy.

"Because the changes relate to security measures it's not something that can be public," said Bourgeois.

She compared releasing information about a jail's security system to releasing similar information on a bank. If everyone knew how security worked in the bank, there would be an outbreak of robberies.

BCC has a minimum of six staff on each shift. Nakashook has been charged with escaping lawful custody and appear in court Oct. 8.