Two drug convicts escape, one injured

Two drug convicts escape, one injured

TANGERANG (JP): In a daring escape attempt, three convicts
climbed a four-meter wall surrounding the Tangerang Women's
Penitentiary in the early hours of Friday.

Two managed to escape, but the third, identified as Ranni
Andriani, 25, a cocaine smuggler with a death sentence, was left
behind after breaking her hip when she fell from the wall.

During questioning by prison officials, Ranni identified the
other inmates as Maya, 40, and Angle Deby, 30, serving eight
years and 1.5 years respectively for drug dealing and use. She
said that the escape idea was spontaneous.

"It was 5 a.m., just after sahur (the morning meal of Ramadhan
fasting month)... most inmates were praying... everything was
quiet.

We took the chance to climb the wall," Ranni said.

She said that other two convicts climbed first.

"I fell. I couldn't move and my two friends couldn't care
less. They escaped. I don't know where they went," Ranni said.

She said that she was lying on the ground crying for nearly
two hours before a prison guard found her.

"I screamed for help. I was then rushed to the Tangerang
General Hospital," Ranni told reporters.

"I have not been treated badly. I was just missing my family.
This is the holy month of Ramadhan, and I was missing them."

Ranni was sentenced to death by the Tangerang District Court
in August after being found guilty of being part of an
international drug ring attempting to smuggle cocaine out of
Indonesia.

Police seized six kilograms of cocaine and US$3,000 in cash
from Ranni, and five kilograms of cocaine and $3,000 in cash from
her male friend, at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport, on Jan. 12.

Both couriers were about to board a London-bound Cathay
Pacific flight via Hong Kong.

Prison officials could not be reached to comment on their
efforts to capture the two escapees. (41/ylt)