Escapee Mikel, prosecutor face arrest

BOGOR (JP): National Police Chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo said yesterday he had ordered the arrest of both a detainee who escaped the Bogor prison Friday and also the prosecutor involved in the case.

He said in Jakarta the prosecutor's "game" in the escape of Erling Doly Wijaya alias Mikel, one of two defendants in the Jagorawi toll road murder and robbery case, was "too predictable."

The prosecutor in the alleged crime of Oct. 11, 1996 in which a treasurer was killed, was Andi Rachman Asbar.

In the last court session on Friday Andi had told the presiding judge that he could not present the defendant as Mikel had escaped.

Meanwhile Mikel's belongings had been absent from his cell for a week, an inmate said.

The source who requested anonymity said Mikel, 31, had always asked fellow inmates of their respective court schedules.

Three employees from the prison and Prosecutor's Office are being questioned at Cibinong Prosecutor's Office following the escape.

People now being detained at Bogor Police Headquarters for their alleged involvement in the escape of the defendant are Deni J., a Prosecutor's Office administration official, R. Priyatna, a driver, and Munandar, a prison administration clerk.

Interrogations revealed that they were going to receive payment of at least Rp 100,000, a police source said. It was alleged that Deni forged an official's signature on a notice requesting Mikel be brought out of prison for a court hearing.

Immigration officials have been told to guard all seaports and airports to prevent Mikel from leaving the country.

The unnamed inmate also claimed of overhearing another defendant in the same case, Hendrik, warning wardens on Friday: "If Mikel is not back by noon, he'll never return."

However Hendrik told reporters Monday that he had not been suspicious of Mikel escaping. Mikel was frequently taken out of prison, not only for the Jagorawi case, but also to testify in a auto-theft case.

"Now I will face everything alone," he said.

It was found that Mikel had escaped Friday after his lawyer, Almuzfar, discovered he was released to attend a court hearing.

"I was shocked because a hearing was scheduled on June 30, not June 27," he said.

Bogor Police Chief Col. Dadang Garnida said a request to have an inmate brought out of prison should be rechecked with the party who made the request.

Meanwhile Chief Prosecutor Singgih said Monday that prison officers involved in Mikel's escape would be fired. (24/cst/anr)