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resident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered a complete overhaul of the country'€™s correctional system following two prison breaks in the past week, one of which ended with the death of five inmates.

On Wednesday, a prison break occurred in Batam, Riau Islands, when 12 drug detainees fled Batam detention center after assaulting two prison guards. The incident took place only six days after over 200 inmates escaped from Tanjung Gusta Penitentiary in Medan, North Sumatra, following a riot that burned part of the prison.

'€œFollowing the Tanjung Gusta riot and prior to the Batam incident, the President instructed the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister [Djoko Suyanto] and the Law and Human Rights Minister [Amir Syamsuddin] to step up their vigilance over the possibility of another prison break,'€ presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said on Thursday.

Julian also said Yudhoyono had ordered a complete evaluation of correctional policies in the country.

'€œWe have seen similar incidents so we will evaluate correctional policies and facilities across the
country,'€ Julian added.

When asked about the accountability of officials responsible for chaotic prison management, Julian declined to comment.

Lawmakers at the House of Representatives have demanded that Deputy Law and Human Rights Minister Denny Indrayana resign from his position, accusing him of creating dual leadership in the ministry that they deemed had made efforts to reform the country'€™s correctional system more difficult.

As of Thursday afternoon, the Riau Islands Police had recaptured three of 12 escaped detainees.

Riau Islands Police chief Brig. Gen. Endjang Sudrajat suspected that a drug ring had played a role in the prison break.

'€œWe'€™re still investigating the allegation [of drug ring'€™s involvement]. Our personnel and the Water Police have started the manhunt on nearby islands. We'€™re also involving fishermen and crews of local ships in the operation,'€ he said on Thursday.

National Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Agus Rianto shrugged off speculation that the Batam jailbreak was inspired by the incident at Tanjung Gusta Penitentiary. Agus, however, said the force was stepping up security measures around penitentiaries and detention centers across the country in the wake of Tanjung Gusta.

'€œThe National Police chief has instructed regional police chiefs to coordinate with the Law and Human Rights Ministry in an effort to boost security and surveillance at penitentiaries,'€ he said on Thursday.

Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto scolded minister Amir and said the Batam prison break could have been prevented. '€œI really regret the Batam jailbreak. I have instructed Pak Amir to step up his vigilance following the Tanjung Gusta incident,'€ he said.

State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Lt. Gen. Marciano Norman said the Tanjung Gusta incident should serve as a wake up call to improve prison security in Indonesia.

'€œRelevant officials must be able to deal with such a problem and not rely on other institutions,'€ he said.

Bagus BT Saragih contributed to this report.