Padang penitentiary set ablaze

Padang penitentiary set ablaze

PADANG, West Sumatra (JP): An estimated 100 prisoners at the
Muaro Penitentiary here, outraged over what they perceived as
unfairness in the granting of Independence Day remissions, set
fire to the facility on Wednesday.

The incident took place only one day after prisoners at Gunung
Sari Penitentiary and Detention Center in Ujungpandang, South
Sulawesi, set fire to the complex and escaped.

In Padang, some 20 inmates from the second cell block escaped
during the melee, which took place at about 10:30 a.m.

"Some prisoners tried to escape the fire, but others sabotaged
the fire department's work by cutting off the water hose," West
Sumatra Police chief Col. Dasrul Lamsuddin said.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control after three
hours. There were no fatalities, but an inmate, Bustanul Arifin,
was rushed to the hospital after being stabbed as he attempted
to prevent his fellow prisoners from escaping.

The prison houses 263 inmates, including 15 women, Dasrul
said, adding that 12 prison guards were being questioned over the
fire.

"We suspect the incident occurred because the inmates were
jealous over the granting of remissions by the government," he
said.

The government reduced the jail terms of 17,361 prisoners
across the country to mark Independence Day on Aug. 17.

Prison officials said a Molotov cocktail exploded during the
melee, and angry prisoners also burned a car in the parking lot.

At least 600 police personnel were deployed to help control
the fray and evacuate prisoners to West Sumatra Police
Headquarters and Padang Police Headquarters. A manhunt has been
launched for the 20 escaped convicts.

In Ujungpandang, police are still searching for 54 inmates who
escaped during Tuesday's fire.

Prisoners set fire to a room late Tuesday after an inmate,
identified as Usman, was shot by guard Lulu Kuncoro, according to
South Sulawesi Police spokesman Maj. M. Chaerul.

"Fifteen of the inmates who escaped have been recaptured and
there are only 54 still at large," Chaerul said, correcting
earlier reports that an estimated 100 prisoners escaped.

"Out of the total 588 inmates housed in the complex, 19 were
released on Tuesday following the government's remission
program," he said.

Usman was among 19 inmates scheduled to be released, but he
refused to be picked up by Gowa Police, who wanted to question
him about another case, Chaerul said.

"Rather than coming with the police, Usman ran away toward the
counseling room. Irritated by Usman's actions, Lulu, chief of the
prison's counseling unit, gave chase and then shot Usman,"
Chaerul said.

Warden Sultani said the shooting was witnessed by a number of
people who were at the prison to visit family members.

"News of the shooting infuriated other inmates and they
started the fire, which quickly spread to seven of the jail's
nine blocks," Sultani said.

Police are investigating Lulu and five inmates allegedly
involved in the arson, and several guns from the counseling room
have been confiscated, Chaerul said.

Meanwhile, five people reportedly suffering from gun shot
wounds and minor injuries sustained during the incident are being
treated at Bhayangkara Hospital in Ujungpandang. The five were
identified as Usman, Songkala, Supardi, Kamarrudin Baso and
Bustami. (27/28/edt)