Inmate Convicted of Theft Escapes from Nusakambangan Prison, Recaptured within Three Hours

A prisoner at Lapas Kelas IIB Nirbaya, Nusakambangan, Cilacap, Central Java, escaped on Monday evening, 9 March 2026. However, approximately three hours after his escape, the inmate with initials SN was recaptured.

Bergi Riyadi, the security chief at Lapas IIB Nirbaya, disclosed that SN, who was imprisoned for theft, fled by climbing the prison fence. According to Bergi, because the facility focuses on inmate rehabilitation, security measures are not particularly stringent.

“Our position is as a minimum-security prison, which is not like the other prisons here at Nusakambangan with enhanced security,” Bergi said when contacted on Tuesday, 10 March 2026.

Bergi revealed that SN’s escape was not premeditated but rather spontaneous. “He saw a small gap and immediately ran into the forest,” he said, adding that SN was no longer wearing his prison uniform when he fled.

Upon discovering SN’s escape, the Lapas Nirbaya management immediately coordinated with local police, including village security personnel (Babinsa). Information about the escaped inmate was promptly disseminated.

According to Bergi, SN was found in a residential area. At that moment, SN spotted the Babinsa personnel.

“When he perhaps saw the Babinsa wearing their uniform, the perpetrator became afraid and ran. They chased him, apprehended him, and thank God no one hit him or anything like that. He was even treated well by the surrounding residents,” Bergi said.

After confirming the apprehended person was SN, Lapas Nirbaya officers immediately retrieved him. “Thank God within less than three hours we were able to recover him thanks to the entire team’s efforts and coordination with the relevant authorities,” Bergi said.

He stated that SN is now held in a cell under strict security. Lapas Nirbaya officers also interrogated SN about his decision to escape.

“He escaped because he allegedly had debts with other inmates. So perhaps he felt anxious or afraid,” Bergi said.

According to Bergi, as a result of the escape attempt, SN will forfeit certain inmate privileges, including sentence reduction (remisi) benefits. He noted that SN was transferred from Magelang to Lapas Nirbaya on 13 February 2026.