THE POLICE are continuing their search for alleged bank robber Roman Červenka, who fled from a hospital in Bratislava, the SITA newswire wrote. The accused might be armed. Spokesman of the Police Presidium Martin Korch told the SITA newswire that the police are also searching via the Schengen Information System, which enables them to detain him in another member country.
Červenka, who faces life imprisonment, fled through a narrow window in a WC in the Kramáre hospital on January 16 after undergoing medical examinations. The police took him to the hospital on suspicion of appendicitis.
In spite of one of the largest manhunts ever, in which the Bratislava police blocked off roads in and out of the city, the police have failed to catch Červenka so far.
Police president Ján Packa told SITA that this 26-year old man has already been imprisoned four times - once for robbery and again for assault.
Červenka allegedly robbed a bank in Bratislava on January 3 and stole almost Sk170,000 (€5,000). Police arrested him at his home on January 9. If found guilty, he could face life imprisonment due to the "Three Strikes, You're Out" law.
The police have been criticised for both Červenka's escape and the traffic jam caused by the search for him.