Two of the four convicts who escaped from Bali’s notorious Kerobokan prison earlier this week have been found in Timor Leste, authorities said Thursday, June 22.
Four foreign prisoners — Australian Shaun Davidson, Bulgarian Dimitar Nikolov Iliev, Indian Sayed Mohammed Said and Malaysian Tee Kok King — escaped the prison via a hand-dug tunnel in the early hours of Monday, June 19.
Bali’s General Criminal Directorate and Great Commissioner Rudi Setiawan confirmed that both Said and Iliev were arrested in Dili, the Timor Leste capital, at around 9 a.m. local time.
Prior to the arrest, police officers had investigated the 50 x 75 centimetre tunnel the prisoners used to escape, to ensure the four had not become stuck and died.
“We checked the tunnel and it leads to the outside of Kerobokan Jail, but we will perform another investigation here,” said Division of Criminal Investigation Bureau Head Mikael Hutabarat in Kerobokan Jail on Wednesday, June 21.
Setiawan has not released the details of how Said and Iliev were found in Dili, nor how they managed to get there. He confirmed the arrests had been made thanks to assistance from Interpol. Immediately after the escape, local authorities distributed photos and information about the four men to the international police organisation.
See: Four Foreign Prisoners Escape Kerobokan Correctional Facility In Bali
Said and Iliev are returning to Kerobokan while authorities will continue the search for King and Davidson.
Davidson is likely to be avoiding Australia, he previously fled Perth on a false passport while facing charges for alleged cannabis and meth possession with the intent to sell.
Bali Corrections Chief Surung Pasaribu suspected outsiders may have helped in the breakout.
“There was no left over dirt. So professionals. Hopefully we can uncover the matter,” Pasaribu said.
Setiawan said if the tunnel had been freshly dug, there would likely be to witnesses who noticed the dirt covered escapees.
See: We Want To Break Free: Indonesia’s Failing Prison System And Break Outs
Image credits: Dailymail