240 Inmates Escape from Medan Prison after Riot

Jakarta (Antara) - A total of 240 prisoners have escaped from Tanjung Gusta penitentiary in Medan, North Sumatra province, following riot that happen on last Thursday (July 11), Coordinating Minister for Politic, Law and Security Djoko Suyanto said. "Out of the 240 escaped prisoners, 64 of them have been recaptured," the minister said on Friday. He explained the riot in Tanjung Gusta prison was triggered by inmates' complaining about electricity blackout and trouble in water procurement. "The capacity of electricity in the prison was not in line with the number of inmates. Hence electricity blackout happened and this incident anger some inmates that they start to ruin the penitentiary facilities," the minister said, adding police are still searching for the missing inmates. In the meantime, police said five people were killed in riot and fire at the Tanjung Gusta penitentiary when around 150 inmates reported escaping on Thursday night. "The dead victims included two prison guards and three prisoners who had been treated specially for good conduct and helped the prison guards," police spokesman Ins. Gen. Ronny F Sompie said here on Friday. The bodies of the dead victims have been sent to the state hospital of Pringadi in Medan, Ronny said. "The situation is now under control. The fire has been put out," he said. (*)