Samir Derek Belhajjam, 30, escaped from custody on Monday. Photo: NZ POLICE
A man who escaped police custody on Monday, fleeing from a police van outside court, has handed himself in.
Samir Derek Belhajjam, 30, went to the Taupō Police Station just before 9am.
He faces a charge of escaping from custody and charges related to alleged wilful damage and dishonesty offending.
He is due to appear in Taupō District Court on Wednesday morning.
Taupō area commander Inspector Phil Edwards earlier said said Belhajjam was being taken back to prison after a court appearance when he managed to evade his police escort.
Enquiries into how this occurred were ongoing, Edwards said, and police would be conducting a full review.
He said there were no concerns about staffing levels at the time.
