Escape from Libertad Prison . Richard Fleitas Bonilla, who escaped on August 20, was recaptured this Monday in Artigas, according to police reports. The operation took place near the Concordia International Bridge , where personnel from Brazil and Uruguay detected irregularities in his identification.
Reports indicate he was carrying an allegedly counterfeit ID card. Suspicious of this, he was taken to immigration control and then to a police station. Once his identity was confirmed, he was placed at the disposal of the Uruguayan justice system . A second man, also wanted by the Maldonado Police Department, was arrested during the operation.
Escape from Libertad Prison: recapture and charges
The escape reportedly occurred from prison cell 2 in Sector A, using a garbage truck to leave the facility. Although the operational details are still being documented, this hypothesis remains in the San José prosecutor's file.
Following his arrest in Artigas, Fleitas was charged with repeated evasion of a crime involving falsification of an identity card. The court ruling added two years to the sentence he was serving for a homicide handed down in 2016. He was transferred to the Artigas prison, subject to further transfers ordered by the National Rehabilitation Institute.
Ongoing research and inter-institutional coordination
San José prosecutor Matilde Mattos is leading the investigation to determine whether there was logistical support or cover-ups during the escape and subsequent displacement. The work includes analysis of camera footage, movement traces, and possible contacts at the border. In parallel, communications and testimony are being reviewed to identify potential perpetrators.
The escape from Libertad Prison activated coordination protocols between prosecutors' offices and border police units. The INR is also evaluating internal measures and possible relocations, while the administrative investigation examines procedures and controls within the facility.
With the Libertad prison escape back under judicial control, the case remains open for possible facilitators. The case is moving forward with requests for reports , documentary examinations, and cross-referencing of data between Uruguay and Brazil. The priority now is to consolidate the chain of evidence and determine criminal liability for the escape and subsequent maneuvers.
