Overview
- Hadush Kebatu was recaptured in London after a nearly 48-hour manhunt and was forcibly removed on a Tuesday night flight with five escorts, arriving in Ethiopia on Wednesday with no right to return.
- Downing Street and junior minister Alex Norris said removals staff made an operational decision to pay £500 after Kebatu threatened to disrupt the flight, noting ministers did not approve the payment.
- Justice minister David Lammy has ordered an independent investigation into the erroneous release from HMP Chelmsford, and a prison officer has been suspended while enhanced pre-release checks are introduced.
- The £500 payment drew cross-party condemnation, with critics calling it an outrageous use of public money and arguing it underscores wider failures in the removals system.
- Kebatu, 38, who was convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping and sentenced to 12 months, claims he tried to surrender to police, a claim the Met says lacks evidence.