Prisoners leave the cell where they knit creations for Brazilian fashion designer Raquell Guimaraes in the Arisvaldo de Campos Pires maximum security penitentiary in Juiz de Fora, about 100 miles (160 km) north of Rio de Janeiro, May 29, 2013. When Guimar
Prisoners leave the cell where they knit creations for Brazilian fashion designer Raquell Guimaraes in the Arisvaldo de Campos Pires maximum security penitentiary in Juiz de Fora, about 100 miles (160 km) north of Rio de Janeiro, May 29, 2013. When Guimaraes had trouble finding knitters for her Doiselles brand of high fashion a few years ago, she found the perfect solution in one of the highest security prisons in the country. She trained 18 prisoners sentenced for crimes ranging from armed robbery to murder, to knit the highest quality in exchange for pay and reduced sentences. Picture taken May 29, 2013. Reuters

Amidst the Prime Minister's talk of tightening security and zero tolerance to criminals, the escape of a hardcore criminal beyond the borders of New Zealand has embarrassed the public and put the government on the defensive. Convicted murderer and child sex offender Phillip John Smith managed to flee To Chile, when he was out on a few days' parole. The incident has drawn strong reaction from the Opposition Labour Party, which alleged irresponsibility and total laxity on the part of the authorities.

Minister Must Explain

Labour's spokeswoman Jacinda Ardern called for an explanation from Corrections Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga on how Smith fled the country on an alias, for Chile. The convict was released out of Springhill Prison in the north Waikato, last Thursday, on parole and his interim stay was to be at an associate's place in Waterview, West Auckland. But the convict never turned up, reports Stuff.Co. Nz

The alarm was raised only when Smith failed to reach the prison on Monday. The Labour spokesperson said it looked strange that the prisoner was not all monitored by both probation and Corrections staff, and his disappearance was not detected for so many days. Arden said, "it is incomprehensible that his 'no show' was not reported, the moment he failed to arrive at his release address and the news was not picked up earlier by Corrections."

Ardern demanded an immediate enquiry to find out how this irresponsible situation arose in the first place. "This is because, there are serious questions raised by the public on how an offender, who is a risk to the community, could be on home release," Arden said.

Risky Realese

Ardern said the release of Smith contradicted the very intent of Parole Act, where the primary concern was not to release a person who is a hazard to the community. "The second issue is about putting him on home release. Why is that it took so long to discover that he had not reported to the address he was meant to be released to?"

Ardern said these are vital questions begging answers as to why the Probation Service and Corrections did not maintain a close eye on Smith, who was a repeated offender in the prison and a risk. "It is incomprehensible how it happened and it requires an urgent review by the minister and immediate answers to those questions."

Fled To Brazil

Meanwhile, the police claimed that they got information that the convict Phillip John Smith left Chile and headed to Brazil. New Zealand police said Smith reportedly travelled from Santiago in Chile to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, reports NZ herald.

Police said they were trying to liaise with the authorities in South America through the Interpol. Police spokesman Grant Ogilvie confirmed Smith having taken a connecting flight to Brazil, during a media briefing in Santiago, Chile police confirmed that Smith had arrived in Chile but left that country, Radio New Zealand reported. To get him back, New Zealand faces the problem of not having a bilateral extradition treaty with Brazil, a Ministry of Justice spokesman said.