Investigations are underway into whether the transfer of a notorious West Australia drug trafficker into a low-security prison, which led to his escape, was due to internal corruption or a pure administrative blunder.
The state government has confirmed questions are being asked within WA's Department of Corrections as to who decided Bernd Neumann was deserving of a place at low-security Wooroloo prison farm, and why.
Neumann was just three years into a 15-year sentence for his part in a major drug trafficking syndicate, but was allowed out of jail to attend a prisoner's soccer match last Saturday.
He was walking a prison puppy when he disappeared, with police fearing his deep underworld connections means he has already left Perth.
Prisons minister Joe Francis said it seemed obvious Neumann was a potential flight risk, having previously skipped bail, and serious questions were being asked as to how he was deemed a minimum security prisoner.
"The mind boggles at the way it unfolded - and either it was poor judgment or something untoward. You have to rule out something more sinister," Mr Francis told Fairfax radio.
"During the investigation, the entire process of assessment (will be) checked, and that includes when and who classified him as minimum security. I expect it to be thorough so we can rule out anything untoward."
Neumann, 59, had been part of a drug syndicate that included Stephen Cookson - whose head was found washed up in a bag on Rottnest Island last year.
He is described as fair-skinned and about 183cm tall, with a slim build and long, grey hair in a pony tail. He was last seen wearing a yellow and black polo shirt, black shorts and a green hat.
