Suspect in JSX bombing escapes from Cipinang

JAKARTA (JP): A suspect in the bomb attack on Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) building last September escaped from Cipinang Penitentiary in East Jakarta on Friday morning.

City police chief of detectives Sr. Comr. Hary Montolalu said the bombing suspect, identified as Ibrahim Abdul Manap, fled along with a narcotics convict, identified as Ibrahim Ali, at 5 a.m.

"We believe the escape of the two men was well planned as we found a rope on the penitentiary's wall," Hary told reporters.

The two inmates are Acehnese.

Hary said the police were still questioning three prison wardens at the city police headquarters in connection with the escape.

Ibrahim Ali, a former member of the Army, was sentenced to seven years for trafficking narcotics. The prisoner was arrested by East Jakarta Police in September last year.

Both the inmates joined seven other people occupying cell No. 10 in Block F of the penitentiary.

It remains unclear whether the two Ibrahims were placed in the same cell.

Bombing suspect Manap, along with his five accomplices, were transferred from the city police detention center to Cipinang jail on Jan. 13, as the police completed their dossiers and handed them to the prosecutor's office.

The bomb which exploded in the second basement of the JSX building on Sept. 13, left at least 10 people dead, 46 others injured and 179 cars destroyed.

Meanwhile, Hary said that the police are still searching for three men who fled a detention center in Cilandak Police substation on Thursday morning.

Following the escape, city police chief Insp. Gen. Mulyono Sulaiman replaced the Cilandak Police chief Adj. Comr. Hapsoro, deputy chief Adj. Comr. Rudi Reinwald and detectives chief First Insp. Andi P. Santosa.

The three officers were recalled to the city police headquarters. Hapsoro was replaced by Adj. Comr. P Silitonga, Rudi was substituted by Adj. Comr. Siswono, and Andi was replaced by First Insp. Ami Pradana.

An angry Mulyono ordered the substitution after the three officers were not present when he made an unscheduled visit to the subprecinct office following the prisoners' escape.

Only a few on-duty officers welcomed Mulyono during his visit.

Some 20 officers of Cilandak Police substation are being questioned by internal affairs officers at the city police headquarters for their negligence leading to the escape of the detainees.

Police declined to identify the detainees, who were under police custody for vehicle, gas tanks, chicken and bird thefts. (jun)