Prisoners Escape From North Jakarta District Court, Prosecutors And Police Conduct Search

Illustration of escaped prisoners (ANTARA)

The North Jakarta District Attorney (Kejari) together with the police are still searching for a prisoner named Januar Murdianto who escaped from the North Jakarta District Court detention cell on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.

"The Intelligence and Police Team is still investigating and looking for the whereabouts of the escaped detainee," said the Daily Executor of the Head of the Intelligence Section of the North Jakarta Kejari, Rico, in a statement on Wednesday, May 7.

Januar Murdianto is currently undergoing trial at the North Jakarta District Court with the agenda of reading the indictment and examining witnesses. The trial was chaired by public prosecutor Erni Pramonti.

The prisoner arrived at the court from the Cipinang Rutan at around 13.00 WIB. At around 14.00 WIB, he was taken from the detention cell in the basement to the courtroom 7 by escort officers along with police officers.

Then at 17.00 WIB, Januar entered the Cakra courtroom on the second floor to attend the trial. The trial lasted until 17.30 WIB.

After the trial was over, Januar was brought back to the detention room in the basement along with another prisoner named Dio Adhy Setia, in a handcuffed position.

However, while on their way to the cell, the two of them took advantage of a gap in the stairs near the detention cell to escape. They climbed the guardrail and jumped out of the wall of the court.

Officers immediately gave chase. Dio was arrested after falling and experiencing a sprain, while Januar managed to escape by climbing the factory roof tile behind the court building.

"A direct search was carried out at around 18.00 WIB by an escort team assisted by the police and the North Jakarta Kejari Intelligence Team, by combing the factory area and warehouses around the location," said Rico. However, until 23.00 WIB, Januar's whereabouts had not been found.

Previously, two detainees were reported to have escaped from the North Jakarta District Court area located on Jalan Ancol Baru Selatan on Tuesday night. The head of the Tanjung Priok Police Criminal Investigation Unit, AKP Tommy Brian Hutomo, said the escape of the two detainees was known at around 19.00 WIB.

One of them has been arrested by court officials, while Januar is still being searched. "We together with the North Jakarta Metro Police deployed personnel, including drones, to find the whereabouts of escaped prisoners," said Tommy.

In addition to using drones, searches were also carried out by combing houses and buildings around the court. "We continue to carry out search efforts," he concluded.