Nethy Dharma Somba

Labora Sitorus, a low-ranking police officer, fled from his home in Sorong, West Papua when hundreds of officers went to his house to escort him to Cipinang Penitentiary in Jakarta on Friday.

At least 683 officers from the West Papua Police, the Sorong Police and officials from the Justice and Human Rights Ministry were assigned to pick him up at his house in Tampa Garam, Sorong, on Friday, but Sitorus was nowhere to be found.

"Our officers could not find him. His family said he left on Thursday evening," West Papua Police chief Brig. Gen. Royke Lumowa said on Friday.

West Papua Justice and Human Rights Agency spokesman Puji Harinto said officers had tried to bring in Sitorus when they arrived at his house at 8 a.m. local time.

Sitorus, a former police chief brigadier in Raja Ampat, West Papua, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Supreme Court in 2014 for illegal logging, fuel hoarding and money laundering. The court approved an appeal filed by prosecutors against his two-year prison sentence that was handed down by the Sorong District Court.

The Supreme Court increased his fine to Rp 5 billion (US$381,679) from the previous Rp 500 million.

He was taken to court when the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) found that he had suspicious bank accounts containing Rp 1.5 trillion.

This is not the first time that Sitorus has escaped. He was given permission to leave Sorong Penitentiary in March 2014 to seek medical attention but never returned. The police re-arrested him in February last year, but he left prison again in October to undergo treatment at Pertamina Hospital.

Sorong Penitentiary officials gave him permission to be treated and undergo therapy at his house after he suffered a stroke and heart problems.

He lived in his house and went about his normal activities. He attended his son's wedding in December last year.

The ministry decided to transfer Sitorus to Cipinang Penitentiary in East Jakarta so that he could be treated for his health problems while serving time.

Justice and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H Laoly said the National Police had been advised to put Sitorus on their wanted list.

"We suspect that rouge officials are helping him escape," he said as quoted by Antara news agency, adding that the ministry was investigating who the rogue officials were.

The ministry has also issued a travel ban on Sitorus and will focus the search in Sorong and its surroundings. (rin)