Two die in city prisons

JAKARTA (JP): A prisoner at the Salemba penitentiary in Central Jakarta was found dead in his cell on Monday.

Prison officers said that Yeheskiel Simarmata, 27, who was jailed for robbery of public vehicles at the Senen bus terminal, died from a serious fever.

A day earlier, a thief detained at North Jakarta's Koja military post was also found dead in his cell. The officials said that Tupal Pandapotan, 28, who was arrested a few hours earlier, had committed suicide.

Salemba prison warden Firma Uli Silalahi, told reporters on Monday that Simarmata, who had finished his six-month jail sentence, was to be released on Tuesday.

Firma said that Simarmata died of a "very high fever".

But the victim's wife, Arnet Silalahi, said she did not believe the prison officers.

"I saw he was fine and healthy on my last visit two weeks ago. One of the jailers told me not to visit him but he suggested that I pick him up when he's released on Tuesday," Arnet said.

Separately, City Police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said Tupal was found dead at around 7:45 by soldiers at the post.

"He's believed to have hung himself using a rope which was tied to the door's air vents," Lubis said. (emf)