289 prisoners flee Kuta jail in biggest jailbreak

DENPASAR, Bali (JP): A total of 289 prisoners at the Krobokan Penitentiary here, about five kilometers north of Kuta, went into a rage on Sunday afternoon, setting fire to the jail's registration office on their way to one of the largest escapes in decades.

As of 8:30 p.m. local time, police managed to recapture 104 of the escapees, who were wandering within a three-kilometer-to-five-kilometer radius of the prison, which houses 329 inmates.

All of the escapees were identified as male.

No fatalities or injuries were reported in the incident.

According to local police, only 14 wardens were guarding the complex on Sunday, while two others were on leave.

Badung Police chief Lt. Col. Sadar Sebayang said the police set up road-blocks and were conducting constant patrols throughout the town and combing all neighboring areas, especially the Ubung bus station, to prevent the prisoners from fleeing Denpasar.

"They (the inmates) were clever as they escaped on a non-work day. Luckily we always have a platoon on stand-by on weekends and holidays," Sadar said.

Bali Police chief Brig. Gen. Togar Sianipar issued a shoot-on- the-spot order if the inmates refused to surrender.

The town gave no trace of any tension, however, with the public's activities going on as usual.

Reports said the prisoners escaped at about 5 p.m., when they were about to attend a regular evening roll call in the prison yard. Without clear reasons, they went into a frenzy and some of them tried to break the main gate.

There was nothing much that the wardens could do as they were outnumbered.

The fugitives reportedly hijacked two cars and several motorbikes, mostly driven by female motorists who happened to be passing the street near the penitentiary.

Residents of villages near the prison, who were alerted about the jailbreak, beefed up security with night patrols.

Radios called on people to be cautious with regard to strangers. Since the inmates do not wear uniforms, people were told to call the police if they saw any males who were sweaty, barefoot and possessed no identity card.

Togar, who inspected the jailhouse, could not hide his anger over the incident when he met with acting chief warden Nyoman Susanta.

"This is all because of your negligence. Every time you screw up, we (police) have to clean up your mess," he told Susanta angrily.

Togar suggested Susanta hold drills and prepare his staff with riot training since it was obvious that they were not ready to face any unrest.

Details of the incident were still being investigated. (zen/edt)