Prison guard jailed for receiving bribe

BOGOR (JP): Bogor District Court sentenced a 41-year-old prison officer, Munandar, to five months and 15 days in jail for aiding the escape of the man behind the Jagorawi toll road murder and robbery.

Judge Ginalita Silitonga said the defendant, the former head of security at Paledang Penitentiary, was guilty of receiving Rp 100,000 (US$14) to allow Erling Doli Wijaya, alias Mikel, to leave the prison on June 18, 21 and 24 last year.

Mikel, who later escaped from the prison on June 27, was tried in absentia and sentenced to 20 years in jail for his role in the robbery and murder in October, 1996.

The escapee and his three accomplices stole Rp 312 million from a car and shot and killed the driver, Zainuddin Lesmana.

"Helping Mikel rendezvous with his girlfriend, prior to the escape, went against Munandar's responsibilities at the prison," Ginalita said.

"The defendant is guilty of violating Article 3 of Law No. 4 on bribery."

The sentence is lighter than the six months in jail proposed by Prosecutor M. Nasir.

The defendant, who has already served five months and five days in jail, said he was still considering whether to accept the verdict or appeal. (24/hhr)