Spanish police arrest man who twice escaped by fax

Spanish police say they have arrested a man who twice escaped from custody by having his wife send fake faxes ordering his release.

Fifty-seven-year-old Jose Carlos Serna was taken into custody at his home in San Lorenzo del Escorial, a suburb north of Madrid, on Friday, while hiding in a hollowed-out sofa, police said.



In December, he was in a cell at Arganda del Rey courthouse awaiting trial when officers got a fax purportedly from a regional court. It was followed by a phone call purportedly from a court official, corroborating the release order.

Spanish officers tried to verify the order, but their calls went unanswered. When a second call was received confirming Serna's release, he was freed to a waiting taxi. Police said Serna used the same trick to escape from Valdemoro jail in October.