UK Justice Minister David Lammy expressed outrage after an Ethiopian asylum seeker, Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, was accidentally released from prison instead of being deported. Kebatu, 38, was serving a 12-month sentence for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman. The mistake occurred at HMP Chelmsford, where Kebatu was wrongly categorized as a prisoner due to be released on license and handed a £76 discharge grant.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the error as “totally unacceptable” and assured that the police are working urgently to track Kebatu down. The incident has sparked widespread criticism, with opposition leaders accusing the government of “breathtaking incompetence” and calling for an investigation into the mistake. Kebatu was last seen boarding a train to London, and police are scouring CCTV footage to locate him. The case has also raised concerns about the government’s handling of the migrant crisis and the need for stricter deportation policies.
