進入英語學習論壇下載音頻 去聽寫專區一展身手

Prison authorities in North China's Hebei province are conducting an internal investigation over a jailbreak that drew national attention and raised questions on how the escaper managed to remain free for 13 days.

Wang Zhenqing, 43, was caught on Saturday in his hometown of Dancheng, in neighboring Henan province, 470 kilometers away.

He fled from Hebei Provincial No 3 Prison in the city of Shenzhou at 6:15 am on Sept 11, jail officials said.

"The Hebei Department of Justice and Hebei Prison Management Bureau have dispatched a work team to investigate those responsible," said a notice on the official website of the provincial department of justice. The case will be treated seriously."

A Shanghai newspaper, the Oriental Morning Post, quoted an unnamed source in the prison as saying the superintendent had been replaced and guards on duty the day Wang escaped had been detained.

Wang's escape had triggered heated debate on the Internet.

Some called him a hero, and said they would offer him help if they came across him.

Police said Wang's capture was made all the more difficult in that he had served in the army's special force and knew how to cover his tracks.

Police in Henan and Hebei provinces traced him over 10 km from his home in Wangzhai village to Lumiao village, where relatives of Wang live, the newspaper Beijing News reported.

Police then surrounded a three-story building from 12 pm on Friday, and climbed over the wall and caught him hiding in a room at about 1:30 am on Saturday.

Among the questions being asked about Wang's escape is why he went home, a place that presumably would be one of the first places where authorities would look for him.

Wang began a 10-year sentence for theft in January in a jail that holds 3,700 prisoners. In the prison he made birdcages, a released inmate was quoted as saying.

Earlier, police had said Wang made rope out of plastic bags.

Beijing News quoted unnamed sources as saying he had made his escape by climbing over a prison wall.

In an apparent move to prevent more escapes, new barbed wire has been put up on the prison's walls.

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）

About the broadcaster:

Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.