16 Police Detainees Escape, IPW: Not Sure Neglect Officers, They Focus On Security Of Elections

One side of the Tanah Abang Police Station/ Photo: Rizky Sulistio/ VOI

JAKARTA - Chairman of Indonesia Police Watch (IPW), Sugeng Teguh Santoso said the case of the escape of 16 Tanah Abang Metro Police detainees from prison cells could be caused by several factors.

"(factors) are related to the infrastructure of the detention room or the negligence of the prison guard. For example, there are tools that can be brought in that can be used to cut iron or others. This must be investigated," said Sugeng when confirmed by VOI, Monday, February 19.

IPW said, it is necessary to deepen the chronology of the incident regarding the escape of 16 prisoners from the Tanah Abang Metro Police prison cell.

"So it cannot be said whose fault is this, especially in the atmosphere of the police officers focusing on securing the election," he said.

Sugeng said that this problem must be investigated by the Central Jakarta Metro Police.

"We can't judge the negligence of the officers or what it looks like. Of course the Propam from the Resort Police will check first, everything will be examined, the prison officers, the condition of the detention room, then what is the reason they can escape," he said.

Meanwhile, based on the information gathered, 16 Tanah Abang Metro Police detainees fled using two aids such as a hacksaw and other sarongs.

"After successfully cutting the iron from the detention room, they fled using a sarong from the second floor to get down," said one resident source, Monday, February 19.

Residents said that the night of the incident he heard something was like the sound of people walking. At that time there were no residents who realized that there were prisoners who had fled.