A former inmate of Ponent Penitentiary Centre in Lleida, released in mid-April despite warnings of a "high risk of reoffending", has been sent back to prison. A Lleida duty court ordered his provisional imprisonment on Sunday after he appeared before a judge for an attempted violent robbery at a supermarket.
The incident took place on Friday afternoon when the man tried to assault a commercial establishment, reportedly armed with a simulated pistol. The assailant did not complete the robbery and fled the scene, but Lleida's Guàrdia Urbana arrested him shortly after in the Pardinyes neighbourhood.
Police Identify Suspect
When the Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's police force, reviewed the supermarket's security footage, they identified the man as the former Ponent inmate. Penitentiary Institutions had previously warned that he posed a "high risk of reoffending" even after completing his sentence for murder. The Directorate General of Penitentiary Affairs had already referred the case to the Lleida Public Prosecutor's Office on 26 March for assessment.
Following his release, the Mossos had started a discreet, non-invasive surveillance operation to monitor his movements without infringing on his rights as a free citizen. However, the judge has now ordered his return to prison due to the new crime for which he is under investigation.
Previous Warnings Ignored
The re-imprisonment highlights concerns raised by prison authorities regarding individuals deemed a high risk to public safety upon release. The initial decision to release the inmate, despite internal warnings, prompted a review by the Public Prosecutor's Office. This latest incident underscores the challenges authorities face in balancing individual liberties with public protection.
The investigation into the attempted robbery is ongoing. Further details are expected to emerge as the legal process continues, determining the full extent of the charges and the man's future.
