ALLEGED Goulburn jail escapee Makell (Mark) Maukau was under heavy guard when he appeared briefly in court on Wednesday.

Four prison officers guarded the Goulburn Local Court dock when Maukau was brought up from the holding cells. Police said the 23-year old convicted armed robber last Friday escaped from the jail’s minimum security section, where he was serving out a two year sentence due to end in April next year.

Maukau was recaptured last Saturday close to the Victorian border in high country near Delegate.

Police said he had been on the run for about 24 hours after allegedly cutting his way out of prison and hi-jacking a car in Goldsmith Street, Goulburn. Maukau said nothing and did not enter a plea when he sat passively in the dock during Wednesday’s preliminary hearing of four police charges connected with his escape.

His lawyer, Tim McGrath, said the Director of Public Prosecutions would now be in charge of the District Court case. He did not apply for bail.

Magistrate Beattie ordered the prosecution brief be served by March 28, 2012. Maukau is charged with escaping from lawful custody; aggravated assault with intent to take or drive a motor vehicle while armed with a weapon; “Skye’s Law” – failing to stop, and driving recklessly while being pursued by police; driving while unlicensed.

Meantime, Corrective Services is giving no hints into the circumstances surrounding the inmate’s alleged escape last Friday.

Despite extensive questions about his location immediately before, how he allegedly gained access to tools, supervision and his security status, a Corrective Services spokesperson would only say his supervision was “commensurate and appropriate to a minimum security facility.”

Explaining the 30-minute delay before notifying police of Maukau’s alleged escape, the Corrective Services spokesperson said: “When the inmate was noticed missing at 12.30pm muster an extensive service was immediately conducted before contacting police once a search of the area was exhausted. In line with normal escape response procedures it is practice to ensure that all inmates are accounted for prior to contacting police.”

A security review is underway.