Prison guard gets bail following escape of alleged gangster

The British Columbia prison guard accused of helping alleged gangster Omid Tahvili escape from North Fraser Pretrial Centre has been released on bail.

Edwin Ticne, whoappeared in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster on Thursday,was granted bail on a$100,000 surety and must meet several conditions before his trial date next June.

Tahvili, who remains at large and is considered a flight risk, has been described by police as a high-ranking member of the Lower Mainland Persian gang hierarchy.

A month before his escape, he was convicted of kidnapping, sexual assault, unlawful confinement, uttering threats and causing bodily harm.

Policeallege Ticne helped Tahvili make a daring escape on Nov. 15, when he walked out the front doors of the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam wearing a janitor's uniform.

His disappearance wasn't discovered for nearly 24 hours.

During Thursday's bail hearing, Justice Peter Leask said Ticne must not contact Tahvili or any of his associates.

At the time of his escape, Tahvili was in the high-security pre-trial centre, awaiting his sentencing hearing.

The Crown has said it will seek a sentence of between 10 and 15 years.