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131 inmates still at large after fleeing Pekanbaru prison
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Escaped inmates who have been caught by police look out of a prison window at Sialang Bungkuk Penitentiary in Pekanbaru, Riau, on May 5. (Antara/Rony Muharman)
One week after a jailbreak at Sialang Bungkuk Penitentiary in Pekanbaru, Riau, on May 5, 131 of the 448 escapees remain at large.
“Of the total, 317 inmates have been recaptured. The remaining 131 people are still on the run,” said Pekanbaru Police chief Sr. Comr. Susanto as quoted by Antara News Agency on Friday.
On Thursday, two more inmates returned to Sialang Bungkuk Penitentiary. The last inmate to surrender was Junaidi Als Jon Rambai, 36, who was sentenced to five and a half years on drug charges. He had served nine months of his sentence when he fled the prison.
Jon reportedly drifted from one place to another in the city before he contacted his parents and went to their home on Jl. Sudirman.
“After he met his parents and his wife and child, Jon was persuaded by his parents to return to Sialang Bungkuk. His parents were afraid that if he did not surrender or was arrested, he would be shot or beaten,” said Susanto. Accompanied by his family, Jon went back to Sialang Bungkuk.
Antoni, another inmate who surrendered to Sialang Bungkuk guards on Thursday, was also persuaded by his family to return to the prison as they were afraid he would be caught and beaten.
The jailbreak was triggered by a protest staged by inmates against prison guards in the overcrowded prison. Allegations of inhumane treatment emerged following the jailbreak. (hol/ebf)
