Nine inmates escape

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Police are tracking down nine inmates who escaped from the their detention house in Pangkalan Brandan last week.

They broke out by sawing the iron bars of a ventilation window, scaling a four meter high wall and climbing down a rope made from blankets, police said.

The detainees, between 18 and 52 years of age, were being held for various offenses and are now believed to be hiding in Medan, Antara reported. (pan)