Inmate Escapes Lyon-Corbas Prison in Laundry Bag

A 20-year-old inmate escaped from the overcrowded Lyon-Corbas prison in southeastern France by hiding inside his cellmate’s laundry bag as the cellmate was released, with the escape discovered over 24 hours later. The escapee, serving multiple sentences and reportedly under investigation for organized crime and possibly a double murder, exploited severe overcrowding and procedural lapses in the facility, which was operating at 170% capacity. French prison administration director Sébastien Cauwel described the escape as unprecedented, citing an 'accumulation of errors' and serious malfunctions. Both internal and judicial investigations are underway to determine the circumstances and possible organized crime involvement. The incident has reignited concerns about chronic overcrowding and strained working conditions at the prison, issues previously raised by the Lyon Bar Association. Authorities are still searching for the fugitive, with the case drawing national attention to systemic weaknesses in France’s prison system.