F

ive prisoners escaped on Monday from their cell at the West Denpasar Police station in Bali. The police are still hunting the escapees who are not thought to have left the resort island.

The five prisoners have been identified as Muhammad Zubair, a suspect in an embezzlement case; Muhammad Rifai, a theft suspect; and three robbery suspects, namely Muhammad Akbar, Muhammad Arfan and Wilson Kenedy.

Denpasar Police chief Sr. Comr. Hadi Purnomo said the five prisoners escaped from their cell at around 4 a.m. local time on Monday. They broke through the toilet roof inside the cell. The police did not become aware of the escape until 7 a.m. when they checked their prisoners. Out of a total of 15 prisoners in the cell, only 10 were left.

“It is suspected they planned the escape. They cut the ceiling using nails and then opened the roof tile,” Hadi said.

He said the police would intensify their search, especially at departure points across the island, including Gilimanuk and Benoa seaports, as well as I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.