Two wardens' negligence cited in Cirebon jailbreak
Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon
Negligence by two wardens is believed to be the cause behind a jail break at the Kesambi Penitentiary by two inmates, one of whom was a political prisoner who had ties to the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), according to Cirebon police.
Chief of Cirebon Police Sr. Comr. Sardjono told The Jakarta Post on Monday that the two wardens, identified as Sumardi and Deni Irawan, were declared suspects after both were questioned as witnesses.
A total of 11 people were also questioned by police over the course of their investigation of the jail break, which was reported last Tuesday.
The police chief alluded to "possibilities" that more people may be charged in connection the incident, pending the results of the authorities' probe. "We are awaiting results," Sardjono said.
Sardjono did not give further details on why wardens Sumardi and Deni be named as suspects. But he hinted that Penitentiary Chief Bambang Margono could be charged, too.
Meanwhile, the manhunt for the escaped inmates was expanded to possible criminal hideouts, Sardjono noted.
The two inmates were M. Ali, an Achenese who was sentenced to a 14-year sentence for illegal arms possession, and Mulyadi who faces a death sentence for murder. Both managed to escape by sawing through the iron bars at their cell at H Block.
"Both are dangerous criminals ... if not immediately arrested, M. Ali can contact his GAM network and retaliate," against the police officials who arrested him, Sardjono stressed.
The special team established to hunt down the prisoners was reportedly searching criminal hideouts, including places in Aceh itself.
"We will build coordination with Aceh police for this investigation," Sardjono added.
Along with Aceh police, he noted, Cirebon police also plan to work with police in Jakarta, Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java in their operations.
"Pictures of the two have been distributed to the police headquarters and put on the wanted list," he said.
The other prisoner, Mulyadi, was a resident of Tangsel in Sukamaju village, Sukaraja district in Sukabumi regency.
He had been transferred to Cirebon penitentiary in August from Sukabumi prison, while M. Ali was moved to the prison the same month from Sukamiskin Penitentiary in Bandung, West Java.