Drug suspect escapes women's penitentiary

JAKARTA (JP): A woman arrested over drugs escaped Pondok Bambu Women's Penitentiary on Tuesday afternoon, reportedly aided by penitentiary wardens.

East Jakarta Police chief of detectives, Adj. Comr. Agus Irianto, confirmed the escape on Tuesday evening, adding that he had no idea exactly how the woman escaped.

"She had been arrested by Tanjung Duren Police over drugs, and she was detained at Pondok Bambu Women's Penitentiary. Tanjung Duren Police are currently handling the case," Agus told The Jakarta Post.

Police sources identified the woman who escaped as Yenni Herawati, 19.

"She had pretended to be sick and said that she needed to go to the hospital... she is supposedly rich. She paid off the wardens. They (wardens) opened the door for her, and she ran off. That's all we can say," a police source said.

Tanjung Duren Police subprecinct chief Adj. Comr. Tahi Silitonga also confirmed the escape, and said he was questioning two wardens from the penitentiary.

"I am questioning two wardens. I cannot say any more," Silitonga said on Tuesday.

The chief Warden of Pondok Bambu Women's Penitentiary, Supriyadi, was very upset when asked on the matter.

"Why are you disturbing me? I have had a very difficult day. I will not confirm anything... if you want the story, come meet me tomorrow at the penitentiary," Supriyadi told the Post over the phone, before hanging up.

Another source added that penitentiary wardens were paid very small salaries and, as a result, they do not worry about letting suspects or convicts go.

"This is nothing. Ask any warden at Cipinang Penitentiary, what goes on there with (corruption convict) Ricardo Gelael," the source said.

"Almost every day, wardens fight over who gets to escort Ricardo out of the penitentiary, to meet his family... each day that convict spends over Rp 1 million every time he is escorted out by the wardens," the source said.

Like his friend, fugitive Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, Ricardo was convicted by the Supreme Court last September and sentenced to an 18-month prison term at Cipinang Penitentiary, East Jakarta, over a land swap scam with the State Logistics Agency in 1995. (ylt)