By STEPHEN GAY, Guardian Staff Reporter, stephen@nasguard.com

As police authorities continue their investigations into how a prisoner escaped police custody, National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest told The Nassau Guardian that no form of corruption by law enforcement officers will be tolerated.

Meanwhile, the search continues for Jamaican drug suspect Omar Smith, who managed to escape from the Central Police Station, downtown, on July 21, after he was remanded to Her Majesty's Prison on a marijuana possession charge.

Senior police officials told The Guardian that officers are trying to figure out "what went wrong during the incident". An internal investigation is also underway.

It is alleged that a police constable assisted with Smith's escape.

"Well it has to be not only in words but we have to ensure that there is zero tolerance on corruption," said Turnquest. "If a prisoner is under the care (of police) we have to ensure that every possible precaution is taken to prevent that person from escaping lawful custody.

"If a person is allowed to escape due to negligence we will deal with it, but if their escape is a result of creative ingenuity that's a different matter, but I don't think that's the case."

This was not the first time such an escape was carried out just outside the courthouse.

In 2005, two prisoners waiting to be transported from the Nassau Street courts to Her Majesty's Prison kicked out the security windows of the bus and were able to escape as a police guard reportedly observed the incident. In March, Sergeant Troy Lewis was charged with facilitating the escape of alleged drug dealer Melvin Maycock Sr. on February 28. Maycock was initially locked up by officers at the Elizabeth Estates Police Station but it was later discovered that Maycock's son, Melvin Maycock Jr. had replaced his father in the cell. The Maycock matter, like the latest escape involving Smith, was not reported to the press.

Since taking over the top post of the Royal Bahamas Police Force in January, Acting Police Commissioner Reginald Ferguson has made it clear that under his administration, he intends to weed out corrupt officers, and any sign of corruption from the force. Asked if he was satisfied with the efforts being made by the heads of the country's disciplined forces to stamp out signs of corruption, Minister Turnquest said there was no evidence to suggest otherwise.

"We had all of our divisional commanders and senior managers in a seminar with the appointment leadership institute, talking about ethics and anti-corruption and so on," Turnquest said.

"We will continue to do those types of things to continue to keep it at the forefront that corruption will not be tolerated," said the minister.