The bizarre escape from Lyon-Corbas prison in France is now heading to court, more than a year after it occurred. Twenty-year-old Elyazid A., who escaped on July 11, 2025 by hiding in a large laundry bag, his former cellmate, and a 28-year-old female prison officer now face trial. The investigation revealed serious security breaches and raised suspicions the breakout may have had wider inside support.
Investigating judges noted not all individuals who may have aided the escape have been identified. Corruption suspicions persist, even though investigators could not prove the prison officer received any financial reward.
Escaped while hidden among luggage
The escape took place on the morning of July 11, 2025.
Elyazid A. hid himself inside a large laundry bag prepared by his cellmate, who was being officially released that day.
The bag was reinforced from the inside to hold the weight of a person, according to investigators. Elyazid A. lay near the zipper and breathed through a makeshift hole.
The cellmate then loaded the baggage onto a cart and wheeled it out of the prison, passing through all security areas.
Only after leaving the prison did Elyazid A. exit the bag, get dressed, and flee.
Absence noticed only the next day
One of the most serious issues was that prison staff failed to notice the escape at the time it happened.
The young inmate’s absence was officially discovered only the next day—more than 24 hours after his escape.
After three days on the run, Elyazid A. was arrested by police in Sathonay-Camp, near Lyon.
His former cellmate was later apprehended at a train station in Marseille.
Investigators focused on the prison officer
Investigators soon turned their attention to the conduct of 28-year-old officer Amal M.
Security cameras captured her the day of the escape while she was preparing the cellmate’s release.
The investigation file alleges she opened the cell door without following protocols to check inside, and she turned her back on the prisoners while the luggage was being loaded.
It was during this moment that the bag containing Elyazid A. was added among the other luggage.
The prison officer denies intentionally helping with the escape, claiming her conduct was negligent rather than deliberate.
Phone revealed communication with inmates
The investigation uncovered other circumstances that raised further doubts about the officer’s behavior, according to the judges.
Police found private communications with several inmates on one of her mobile phones.
The file states she had an intimate relationship with one prisoner and sent him private photos.
The officer admitted to inappropriate contacts with some inmates, but maintains she did not knowingly aid the escape.
Asked AI how to delete chats after escape
Investigators also noted another detail of interest.
According to the case file, the prison officer asked the ChatGPT service on the evening of the escape how to delete traces of conversations on WhatsApp and Snapchat.
The next morning—before the escape had been officially detected—she reportedly accessed Elyazid A.’s file in the prison information system.
These facts will be considered by the court as part of the evidence.
Escapee initially claimed officers were bribed
After his arrest, Elyazid A. reportedly told investigators that prison staff had helped with his escape.
He spoke of inside information about the prison’s workings and claimed wardens received cash payments.
Investigators also found messages mentioning a sum of approximately 7,000 euros, allegedly tied to facilitating the escape.
However, these claims could not be substantiated well enough to support further charges.
Later, Elyazid A. retracted his earlier statements, saying no prison staff had helped him escape.
Prison officer not charged with corruption
Investigators also looked into the officer’s finances.
They found no evidence of any specific payment or other financial reward for assisting in the escape.
As a result, she will not stand trial for corruption.
Instead, she faces charges primarily related to aiding a prisoner’s escape and unauthorized communication with an inmate.
Her lawyer maintains she did not knowingly participate in the escape, arguing that the case points to broader systemic failures in the prison.
Judges cite multiple failures at the prison
The investigation uncovered several problems at the prison, not limited to any one officer.
For instance, during a prison check on the day of the escape, one warden failed to notice Elyazid A. was missing from his cell. He claimed he thought he heard Elyazid’s voice coming from the bathroom.
This combination of oversights led investigating judges to conclude that the incident cannot be explained by a single error.
However, no further staff members could be identified for potential criminal responsibility.
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The trial of Elyazid A., his former cellmate, and the prison officer is scheduled for late October in Lyon. The court will ultimately determine the degree of responsibility each defendant bears for the escape.
The case highlights how a single incident exposed wider issues with security procedures in the French prison system. Investigators discovered multiple suspicious circumstances, but many questions about possible other accomplices remain unanswered.
This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
