Police Still Hunting 39 Prisoners Escape From Sorong Prison

West Papua Police Chief Inspector General Jhonny Edison Isir confirmed that the police are still hunting for 39 inmates who escaped from the Class II B Sorong Penitentiary on Sunday, January 7.

"Until now, the police from the Sorong Police are still pursuing them with various efforts," said the Kapolda in Sorong as reported by ANTARA, Monday, January 15.

The West Papua Police Chief has coordinated with the Head of Regional Office of the West Papua Ministry of Law and Human Rights regarding further handling, including the addition of security personnel on holidays.

According to him, this incident should be a lesson to further strengthen security at the Class II B Sorong Prison, especially on holidays or Saturdays and Sundays.

"This is a bitter lesson, we must learn from this incident and fix things that need to be done so that it doesn't happen again," said the Kapolda.

Until now, the search and pursuit of prisoners by the Sorong Police continues through isolation activities in strategic areas, such as the Sorong airport and Port to narrow the space for prisoners to move outside the city of Sorong.

"I have instructed all ranks at the Sorong Raya Police to search and pursue," said the Kapolda.

Another effort made by the police is to appeal to the families of the inmates to help restore if they meet the escaped prisoner.

"So, maybe an ultimatum that is already an ultimatum, submit or not surrender, we will take firm and measured action," said Edison.

Meanwhile, Sorong Police Chief Kombes Happy Perdana Yudianto explained that of the 53 inmates who had escaped from Sorong Prison since Sunday (7/1) at 11.30 WIT, 14 people had been arrested and returned to prison.

"The remaining 39 people are still being hunted," he said.

The Sorong Police Chief also appealed to all prisoners who were still running away to immediately surrender voluntarily to the police.

"Sooner or later their whereabouts will definitely be found and arrested," he said.