Poso convict quietly freed

PALU, Central Sulawesi: Provincial police are searching for a escaped convict who was allowed to leave the Palu prison on Saturday without a guard.

The convict, Ipong, was sentenced to two and a half years jail in February by the Poso District Court for his role in a series of crimes, including murder and robbery.

Poso police chief Adj. Sr. Coms. Abdi Darma Sitepu told The Jakarta Post the prison's chief warden was to blame for Ipong's escape.

A prison guard said Ipong was allowed to leave the jail temporarily to buy medicine after he complained of a headache.

Sitepu said Ipong had gone to the drugstore unguarded. -- JP