Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA News) - Ten convicts are still on the run after escaping from the Abepura Prison on Tuesday and are believed to be hiding in the cities of Jayapura and Keerom, according to the Papua Police.

Head of Papua Police Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw informed ANTARA here that the convicts had not fled to Papua New Guinea.

Earlier, 13 convicts had escaped from the prison. The security officers have arrested three people who are currently being detained by the Jayapura Resort Police in Sentani.

The three people detained by the police in Sentani are Lapis Wantik, Yanuarius Muyak, and Feli Tabuni.

Waterpauw noted that the security officers are still on the lookout for the remaining ten convicts. The police have also urged the local residents to immediately notify the security officers if they found suspicious citizens.

According to the police, ten convicts are deemed to be a threat, particularly if they succeed in rejoining the armed group.

"We are concerned that if they are not immediately arrested, they will probably rejoin the armed group, which has frequently carried out attacks on security officers and civilians," Waterpauw affirmed.

Waterpauw said the fugitives were also convicted in cases of masked robbery in Papua.

"Thus, we are trying to arrest the ten convicts who have escaped from Abepura," Waterpauw emphasized.

The ten escaped fugitives have been identified by the police as Derpin Togotli, Jon Uwaga, Darius Doga, Jefran Efrain Oagay, Eki Dabi, Rambo Tolikara, Itwan Itlay, Hendrik Djoki, Usmin Talenggen, and Yogor Talenggen.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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