Indonesia witnessed a second prison break within a week, in which 12 prisoners reportedly broke out of the Batam's Negara Baloi detention center on Wednesday morning.
National Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Yusri Yunus stated "Twelve inmates successfully ran out. They [escaped] through an unlocked connecting door. [Afterward], they went to the investigation room and then headed to the chief warden's office. They then broke a window's trellis and managed to exit," reported Jakarta Globe.
The incident took place early morning when the jail wardens were conducting their daily cell-cleaning duties.
Brig. Gen. Endjang Sudrajat, the Riau Island regional police chief, told Antara news, "We are still studying the motive driving the escapees. We have taken steps to prevent them from getting away from Batam."
Police forces were pressed into service to nab the convicts. One inmate has already been caught, said Sudrajat.
Local resident Elvina Manulang told AFP that she had seen the escapees get into a minivan and threatened the driver to take them.
"The minivans are always passing by the prison. They forced the driver to take them," eye witness Elvina told AFP.
The twelve absconding are Ismar Piliang, Edi Priantoro, Muhammad Darman, Riki Hidayat, Indra Kumar, Yusnardi, Sufyan bin Abidin, Hendro Gunawan, Achyar Adli, Aguan bin Intan and Mulyadi bin Saparudin, all of whom are accused in drug cases.
Wednesday's prison break comes on the heels of Medan's Tanjung Gusta Penitentiary riot which had over 200 convicts including terror suspects fleeing the jail premises after setting ablaze a part of the detention centre. Five people, three prisoners and two wardens died in the deadly riots which occurred last Thursday.
According to reports, 106 prisoners including four terror suspects are still on the run.
