Ethiopian Asylum-Seeker Mistakenly Released After Sex Assault Conviction, Sparks Protests and Leads to Officer Removal
Ethiopian asylum-seeker Hadush Kebatu, convicted of sex assault, was mistakenly released from a UK prison. Re-arrested, PM Starmer announced his deportation, leading to prison officer suspensions.
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Overview
- Ethiopian asylum-seeker Hadush Kebatu was mistakenly released from Chelmsford prison in the UK after being sentenced to 12 months for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
- His erroneous release occurred despite his impending deportation, prompting a nationwide manhunt and igniting anti-migrant protests across the UK.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly voiced his strong disapproval, stating he was "appalled" by the serious administrative error involving the sex offender's release.
- Following his re-arrest in the UK, Prime Minister Starmer announced Kebatu's deportation, emphasizing the government's commitment to addressing the security lapse.
- Prison officers involved in Kebatu's mistaken release were removed from duties, pending an investigation into the administrative errors that led to the incident.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by emphasizing the government's "blunder" and the "egregious failure" of the system, linking the mistaken release of a sex offender directly to the contentious issue of unauthorized migration. They highlight official condemnations and public anger, while giving less prominence to alternative perspectives, thereby underscoring the severity of the administrative error within a broader political debate.
"The mistaken release has been described as an 'egregious failure' by government officials, highlighting serious concerns about public safety."
ABC News"An asylum-seeker sentenced to 12 months in a British prison for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl was mistakenly released Friday, prompting an urgent police search for a man whose case had prompted anti-migrant protests."
ABC NewsArticles (6)
FAQ
Kebatu was mistakenly categorized as a prisoner due to be released, rather than being held for transfer to an immigration detention center for deportation, which led to his erroneous release from Chelmsford prison[1].
Authorities were alerted on Friday afternoon that Kebatu had been released by mistake, and he was reportedly seen catching a London-bound train after leaving the prison[1].
Kebatu's lawyer, Molly Dyas, stated during his trial that it was his 'firm wish' to be deported[3].
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced an investigation to determine what went wrong, and prison officers involved in the incident have been suspended pending the outcome of that review[2].
Kebatu's arrest earlier in the year triggered anti-migrant protests in London and other UK cities, some of which involved far-right activists and resulted in disorder, and his mistaken release reignited public outrage[1].
History
- 10d
3 articles