Monday, February 14, 2011

Indonesian prisoners overpower guards when let out of their cells for prayers, 19 escape

MANOKWARI, Indonesia — Nineteen inmates have escaped from a prison in eastern Indonesia after overpowering their guards during prayer time.

William Kmur, a warden in West Papua province, says the break occurred on Sunday when all 150 inmates were let out of their cells to take part in prayers.

Three guards were injured, though not seriously.

Kmur says police set up roadblocks across the city of Manokwari on Monday to search for the missing inmates, only two of whom have been recaptured. All 19 were serving sentences ranging from 10 months to 12 years.

Papua is in the easternmost corner of Indonesia. A number of jail breaks have occurred there in recent months, with insecure prison conditions and lazy guards being blamed.


Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/