Two more jail guards imprisoned

JAKARTA (JP): Two more employees of the Cipinang Penitentiary were jailed by the Central Jakarta District Court yesterday for their role in businessman Eddy Tansil's escape.

The court, in separate hearings, found Suwarno Madislam and Suparmo, both 47, guilty of taking part in the conspiracy that led to Tansil's escape in May.

Suwarno, who was responsible for the Tansil's security, escorted him out of the penitentiary and all the way to a pick up point outside Gadjah Mada Plaza. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment.

Suparmo received eight months.

The court said both men took bribes from Tansil in return for helping him escape.

Tansil, the owner of the Golden Key Group, was convicted of swindling Rp 1.3 trillion ($620 million) out of the state-owned Bank Pembangunan Indonesia. He was in the second year of a 20- year jail term. Tansil is still at large and is believed to have fled the country.

Two other prison guards have already been convicted by the same court for their roles in his escape. They both received eight months jail.

A fifth guard is still on trial.

All the four convicted guards pleaded innocence, stressing that they were simply carrying out their superiors' orders. They had all said they assumed Tansil was leaving the penitentiary for a medical check up.

Tansil had a medical leave permit, but it was not due for another two days after his escape.

They also said accepting small amounts of money from inmates was a normal practice and were considered as "tips". (16)