Police conduct probe into smuggler's escape
Police conduct probe into smuggler's escape
JAKARTA (JP): National Police are conducting an internal
investigation into the escape of alleged heroin smuggler, Limbane
Cosmo, from their custody on Feb. 2.
The Chief of General Information at the National Police, Lt.
Col. Bambang Haryoko said yesterday police had questioned several
officers on duty at the time of the escape.
"We have collected detailed information about how he escaped.
But we can't reveal it to the press," Bambang said.
He said the officers involved in the man's escape would be
punished, at least for their negligence.
The fugitive, South African passport holder Limbane Cosmo
arrived at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport from
Bangkok via Singapore on Jan. 8 with 320 grams of heroin in 25
capsules.
He swallowed 11 of the capsules, leaving the remaining 14
capsules in his pocket. Customs and Excise officers found them
when he collapsed in the immigration area after arrival.
"Some of the capsules probably leaked causing him to
collapse," an officer said at the time. Cosmo was taken to the
Kramatjati Police Hospital before being removed to National
Police detention from where he escaped on Feb. 2.
Bambang said the National Police were cooperating with the
International Police to hunt the fugitive. " We have a good
cooperation arrangement with the International Police, especially
in relation to narcotics cases. We hope to catch him soon."
He said the police were placing wanted posters of the suspect
in police stations to help in the capture.
A police source, who wanted to remain anonymous, said some
police officers were being detained for their alleged roles in
the escape of the suspect.
"It will disgrace us, revealing the names of our officers," he
said.
It was the second escape of an alleged heroin smuggler from
police custody.
A Ghanaian, suspected of smuggling 650 grams of heroin,
escaped from City Police detention in October 1995 before being
recaptured in April last year.
No police officer was punished for helping him escape.
The man, Ibrahim S., was found guilty by the Jakarta District
Court on Dec. 14, and is now serving 20 years in jail. (jun)