Pardoned thief escapes from jail

PADANG, West Sumatra (JP): A convicted thief, who was scheduled to be released on Aug. 17, seems to have gotten impatient and escaped from the Payakumbuh prison last week.

The prisoner, Samsuri, had made a favorable enough impression on prison officials with his good conduct only to break out of his cell last Tuesday.

He had been chosen for a pardon in honor of the 50th anniversary of Indonesia's independence on Aug. 17.

"We had decided to release him for his favorable behavior. But obviously he has now blown his chances," chief of the West Sumatra justice office Atjeng Zakaria told Antara Saturday.

According to Zakaria, although officials have not formally announced the names of prisoners to receive remissions, Samsuri knew he was one of the recipients after checking with the Payakumbuh prison warden.

The prison has been rocked by the escapes of five other convicts over the past several months and none have been recaptured. (03)