34 Inmates of Siak Prison Flee after Commotion
Translator
Editor
11 May 2019 18:33 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - As many as 34 prisoners of the Siak Sri Indrapura prison fled after a commotion on early Saturday that resulted in the inmates setting the jail ablaze, Siak District Police said.
"Our data records that 495 inmates are still in the prison, and we have evacuated 119 inmates," Siak Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Ahmad David said Saturday, May 11, adding that the police have continued their search for the prisoners.
David confirmed that 119 inmates were evacuated to the Tengku Maharatu building near the area, whereas 495 others had yet to be moved to other prisons in the neighboring districts owing to the extensive damage caused to Siak prison.
The unrest was triggered by the inmates' discontent and objection to the arrest of their fellow by the police for alleged consumption of narcotics in the jail.
The infuriated inmates reacted violently, setting ablaze the front section of the prison at around 2 a.m. local time and hurled stones at security officers.
The fire brigades were able to put out the fire prior to the dawn prayer, but most of the prison had already been ravaged by the flames.
ANTARA