Escape attempt leaves drug suspect injured

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.