Police in Papua have launched a massive manhunt for 26 inmates who escaped from a jail in Jayapura over the weekend — the second such incident in as many months — and linked the breakout to the former warden.
The prisoners are believed to have escaped from Abepura Penitentiary at around 3 p.m. on Saturday, during scheduled afternoon prayers. Prison officials said they snuck into the juvenile wing of the prison before climbing over the wall using a rope strung together from bedsheets.
“We’re questioning residents in the surrounding areas who may have seen or heard anything,” Jayapura Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Imam Setiawan said on Sunday.
He added that police had set up road blocks along the border with Papua New Guinea, just 30 kilometers from Jayapura, the provincial capital.
“It’s likely the fugitives will try to flee the country, but we haven’t ruled out the possibility they may hole up with family or friends,” Imam said. “At this point we’re reliant on information from the public in trying to locate them.”
The manhunt is being jointly conducted by Jayapura precinct and Abepura subprecinct police.
The escape follows a similar breakout in May from the same facility by 18 convicts and remand detainees.
Only two fugitives from that incident were ever recaptured.
Untung Sugiono, the Justice and Human Rights Ministry’s director general for correctional affairs, said prison officials at Abepura had been questioned and would face administrative punishment.
“At the time of the latest breakout, only three correctional guards were on duty,” Untung said. “This is far less than the required minimum for a facility classified as IIA. There has been serious negligence on the part of the officials in allowing the escape.”
Nazaruddin Burnas, head of Papua’s Justice and Human Rights Office said the spate of security lapses was likely related to the sacking in March of the chief warden.
On May 3, correctional guards loyal to former warden Antonius Ayorbaba rioted in protest at his replacement by Liberthy Sitinjak. It was during that incident that the 18 prisoners escaped.
“The security situation at the prison has been compromised since then,” Nazaruddin said. “Several correctional guards refuse to cooperate with the new warden, leading to gross derelictions of duty that have left security at Abepura Penitentiary in an appalling state.”
He added that Antonius, now running a prison in Bengkulu, still wielded huge influence over Abepura officials.
“I think [the current unrest] is Antonius trying showing that only he can manage the prison and seeking to be transferred back,” Nazaruddin said. “I’ve recommended that Jakarta order all of the officials loyal to him to be transferred out of Abepura.”