Gambling convicts escape before caning in Aceh

Three men convicted of playing dominoes for money have escaped from jail moments before a public caning in devoutly Muslim Aceh province.

Local Islamic police chief Muhammad Rusli said Saturday the men bolted during an unguarded bathroom visit minutes before the punishment for violating anti-gambling laws.

The men were caught playing dominoes for Rp 1,000 rupiah (10 US cents) per game. They were to be caned six times each outside a mosque on Friday.

Aceh adopted Islamic laws banning alcohol and gambling after gaining semi-autonomy from the secular central government following a decades-long civil war. Last year, lawmakers there imposed stoning to death as a punishment for adultery.