Police recapture prison escaper

BANDUNG: One of four inmates who escaped from Banceuy prison in Bandung, West Java, three days ago has been caught.

Erwin Bahrudin, 26, a convicted drug trafficker serving a one- year-jail term, was captured in Jakarta, Bandung Police said.

Erwin and Kamir Santosa, 31, Yakob Santo Siadari, 27, and Gerry Susanto, 23, used wooden planks and sarongs to escape. All were drug dealers.

Adj. Sr. Comr. Masguntur Laupe said he had dispatched personnel to Jakarta, Central Java, East Java and the northern coast of West Java to find the remaining criminals.

Police suspect prison wardens aided the escape as they found no damage to the lock of the cell where the prisoners were detained.

However, no sufficient evidence was found to implicate wardens in the breakout.

Convicted Acehnese drug dealer Edi Sunarta escaped from the jail on Feb. 17, 2003. --JP