Detainee escapes from paddy wagon

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)