Prison escapee eludes police

Police today admitted they are no closer to capturing a notorious drug trafficker more than two weeks after he wandered off during a prisoners' soccer match in Perth's southern suburbs.

Inspector Dominic Wood said police were still trying to track down fugitive Bernd Neumann and warned that anyone who helped him would be prosecuted.

Neumann had served three years of a 15-year sentence for drug trafficking when he disappeared from a Wilson park while walking a puppy during the soccer game at about 4pm on February 8.

"If anybody has any information at all as to this person's whereabouts, if anybody has specifically assisted or aided in this man's escape in any way, we will ruthlessly pursue them as much as we will pursue the escapee themselves," Insp.Wood said.

"They need to know if they have assisted in any way with this escape, they will be arrested and upon conviction they are liable for up to seven years in prison.

"An escape like this, it's highly likely that there will be someone, somewhere who has some information as to how he has escaped and may know now where that escapee is.

"As important as it is that we thoroughly investigate the escapee himself, we are rigorously looking into has anyone assisted in that escape."

Insp. Wood said it was likely someone had helped Neumann but police had no specific information about who that might be.
He said police were contacting Neumann's associates, family and friends as part of their investigation but admitted they had no solid information on his possible whereabouts.