Detainee escapes from paddy wagon

JAKARTA (JP): A prisoner from Salemba Penitentiary in Central Jakarta escaped on Wednesday from the paddy wagon that was about to transport himself and 21 other detainees to the Central Jakarta District Court.

Salemba Penitentiary Warden Bambang Kusbanu said that Muchdar Assegaf, 42, managed to escape after duping the officers from the Central Jakarta Prosecutor's Office and the Central Jakarta Police who were assigned to take the detainees to court for their hearings.

He said Muchdar, who had been on remand at the prison since Nov. 27 last year, first asked permission from the officers to be seated next to the driver during the trip from the prison to the court.

The officers granted his request. But while they were watching the other detainees getting into the truck, Muchdar ran out of the prison gate, which was only 20 meters from the wagon, Bambang said.

Two officers from Salemba Penitentiary, Sugiharto and Suhada, who were having lunch at a food stall across from the prison, saw Muchdar running toward a waiting motorbike.

Sugiharto shouted, "Muchdar's escaped, Muchdar's escaped," but to no avail as Muchdar was already speeding off on the motorbike.

Sugiharto commandeered a passing minivan to give chase but his efforts were fruitless.

Muchdar is one of the suspects in the shooting death of a senior figure in the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), Saleh bin Abdullah Alatas, on July 23, 2000.

Muchdar is charged with premeditated murder which is a capital crime.

He was arrested by the Central Jakarta Police on Sept. 13 in Pandeglang, West Java.

During the arrest, the police also seized an FN 45-millimeter pistol along with 75 bullets. (01)