Escape attempt leaves drug suspect injured

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A 22-year-old drug suspect is now in a critical condition after a reportedly failed escape attempt from detention at South Jakarta police precinct for the second time on Sunday.

He was hospitalized at the National Police Sukanto Hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, after suffering a fracture to his right leg, and bruising to his head, thigh and crotch.

The police claimed that the detainee was ordered to clean the warden's post, which is located on the fourth floor of the police station, the topmost floor of the building.

Brig. J.W. Ivan claimed he was watching the detainee, but when he looked aside, the young man leaped out.

This was the suspect's second jailbreak attempt.

On Saturday evening, the man, along with another drug suspect, 23, escaped detention. The police report claimed the two tricked the guards, saying they wanted to collect their clothes, which were hanging out to dry on the rooftop.

Suspicious guards checked upstairs, only to find the two had gone. The police found several iron fences had been prised apart.

The police managed to recapture one suspect about four hours later as he was seen in Bekasi, east of Jakarta. The other is still at large.

Saturday's incident was the first escape from South Jakarta Police detention in at least two years.

South Jakarta Police have declared a tough war against drug trafficking, killing at least 12 drug suspects who were claimed trying to escape the hand of law in the past two months.

The stance was made soon after Comr. Kusdiantoro, who is the son-in-law of National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, filled the post as the precinct's head of detectives.

Jakarta Police data for 2003 shows that drug-related crimes in the city increased by 11.2 percent compared with the previous year, despite tough police measures.