Riot costs Surakarta Rp 12b

SURAKARTA, Central Java: Financial losses from the riot here last week are estimated at a minimum of Rp 12 billion, Mayor Imam Soetopo said on Monday.

"The figure is an estimate of the cost of the City Hall which was burned down during the unrest. It excludes the loss from the other damaged buildings, such as the assistant governor's office and the BCA building," Imam told The Jakarta Post.

The mayoralty's accounting office set the damage at Rp 14.38 billion.

Meanwhile, another prisoner who escaped from the local penitentiary during the unrest was recaptured, bringing the number of escaped inmates who have surrendered or been captured to 13, warden Sudjito told the Post.

However, Sudjito was pessimistic the police would be able to recapture the remaining 10 escaped convicts. "Impossible. I think only two or three more prisoners can be arrested or are willing to surrender, while the others will be too difficult to find." (44/02)