Nabire, C. Papua. A total of 15 inmates escaped from the Class II B Correctional Facility in Nabire, Central Papua. The incident occurred on Pipit Street, Kali Harapan Subdistrict, Nabire Regency, on Monday at around 7:30 a.m. local time. It was reported that this was the second prison break at the facility this year.

Nabire Police Chief, Samuel D. Tatiratu, said the 15 inmates escaped by climbing over the fence. “They went through the back fence of the prison by tying a volleyball net rope to the iron bar on top of the fence and then climbing over the wall,” Samuel said, as quoted by Antara.

At present, authorities are pursuing the fugitives to ensure they are quickly recaptured. “We are conducting a pursuit toward the hills located right behind the Nabire Prison as well as the Kali Harapan area,” he noted.

Head of the Regional Office of the Directorate General of Corrections in Papua, Mulawarman, revealed that the inmates used a ladder and rope to climb over the fence at Nabire Prison. Their escape was only discovered after officers reviewed the CCTV footage.

The 15 inmates are identified as Roy Pais, Valentinus Mareku, Ayub Edowai, Yakobus Waine, Danus Begal, Adrian Torobi, Eliester Hasibuan, Raimndus Goo, Daniel Esue, Jak Daud Puara, Meki Morin, Melianus Pigome, Dalton Tamaroba, Jhon Mote, and Refli Bima Langitan.

This incident marks the second prison break at Nabire this year. Previously, in June, 19 inmates escaped, including 11 who were involved in separatism cases.

“This is the second case this year, and from the evaluation of the June prison break, it became clear that a perimeter fence surrounding the prison is urgently needed,” Mulawarman said.

He further added that Nabire Prison currently houses 197 inmates, even though its official capacity is only 150.