Security Forces Comb Tamanjeka for Escaped Prisoner

Palu (Antara Bali) - Hundreds of members of a joint military-police force combed Tamanjeka forest in Poso, Central Sulawesi, on Thursday for Muhammad Basri who recently fled from a prison where he has been serving for committing violent crimes.

The regional police command spokesman, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Soemarno said the hunt was led by Poso resort police chief Adjunct Commissioner Susnadi.

Tamanjeka forest was made the target of the operation because it was once used as a location for combat training by an armed civilian group in Poso.

Basri has been jailed for 19 years for involvement in violent cases during communal conflicts in Poso several years ago.

"We are searching at locations likely to be used by Basri to hide including Tamanjeka," Soemarno said.