Prison officer may get 6 months

Prison officer may get 6 months

BOGOR (JP): Prosecutor M. Nasir asked Bogor District Court to sentence a prison officer, 41-year-old Munandar, to six months in jail for aiding the escape of the man behind the Jagorawi toll road murder and robbery.

"Munandar was given Rp 100,000 (US$20) as a bribe to allow the mastermind of the robbery, identified as Erling Doli Wijaya, alias Mikel, to leave Paledang Penitentiary," the prosecutor said.

Nasir said the defendant had acknowledged that helping Mikel rendezvous with his girlfriend, prior to the escape, went against his responsibilities at the prison.

"The defendant had no authority to escort the inmate out of the prison either."

Mikel was tried in absentia and sentenced to 20 years in jail for his role in the robbery and murder in October last year.

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

Mikel escaped from the prison on June 27. But it was revealed that on June 18, 21, and 24, Mikel was taken out of the prison to meet his girlfriend but brought back again.

His removal was made possible after two officers from the Bogor Prosecutor's Office -- Deny Juliandi and R. Priyatna -- allegedly forged the chief prosecutor's signature to enable Mikel to be removed from the prison.

Nasir said that Munandar was also active in the temporary removal of Mikel.

"The defendant is guilty of violating Article 3 of Law No. 11 on bribery."

Judge Ginalita adjourned the trial until Dec. 30 to hear lawyer Achmad Soebroto deliver the defense's statement.

Mikel's younger sister, Enik Setyowati, alias Lulu, and her boyfriend Mardianto have each been sentenced to six months in prison.

Deny and Priyatna have also been jailed for five months each. (24/hhr)