11 prisoners flee, officers questioned

BOGOR (JP): Bogor Police Internal Affairs is questioning six personnel from Citeureup precinct, including its chief, following the escape of 11 suspects from the police station in the wee hours of last Saturday.

Bogor Police chief Lt. Col. Ferial Manaf told the media yesterday that five of the officers were on duty when the incident happened.

"The other one is the Citeureup Police chief, Second Lt. Hotlan Siagian, who must also take responsibility," Ferial said.

According to Ferial, the six officers were being questioned due to their indisciplinary, not criminal, offenses.

Eleven suspects detained in the station fled from their cells at about 2 a.m. Saturday after digging a big hole in the wall using an iron sliding bolt.

"Nobody yet knows how they could do it," Ferial said.

The suspects were being held for alleged involvement in separate light thefts, such as stealing cigarettes, goats and radio-cassette players.

Police believe they were already in hiding in their respective hometowns in Central Java. (bsr/24)