Jerudong Jail Break Fugitives Get Another Five Months On Capture
By Malai FadleyRizal

Bandar Seri Begawan - Two captured fugitives from Jerudong prison went back to serve another five more months as they pleaded guilty yesterday in court for staging a daring jail break.

Azmi Hj Tudin and Mohd Sani Hj Othman told the Magistrates' Court that they escaped from prison, because they did not have peace of mind while in custody.

The Magistrate yesterday highlighted that a fine imposed would send a wrong message to the public and that the apprehension of the two men involved the joint effort of various departments.

In view of that, the presiding magistrate couldn't ignore the fact that their escape was a burden to the enforcement agencies.

The Police Prosecuting Officer explained that the both were serving sentences for drug related offences. Azmi was supposed to be released from prison on 5 July 2005 while his associate would complete his sentence on December 21, 2004. Instead, they got themselves a 5-month additional sentence for their escapade.

Mohd Sani was first remanded on April 17 last year, while Azmi was caught about a month later. The escapees had planned their escape sometime after Azmi's remand commenced where they already carefully observed the whole prison building and its surroundings.

Both made their move when they were lining up to take food at the kitchen area together with other prisoners. Mohd Sani gave Azmi his cue and they proceeded to the clothesline without being noticed by prison warders.

They went to Block E of the prison and climbed over the fence behind it. However, three women warders spotted them in the midst of climbing the fence and one of them immediately alerted the control centre.

Later, they went into a ditch and made their way to the warders' barrack and upon finding that the gate there was locked, they went back into the ditch and successfully made their way out of the prison.

They hid themselves in the jungle until it was dark and went to Kg Kulapis. For disguise, they stole clothes hanging outside a house and threw their prison uniform in the jungle and split up, going their own ways.

The Police immediately conducted a search and were assisted by the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the Prison Department.

CID officers from Jerudong later arrested Azmi Hj Tudin at a residential area in Kg Katimahar after midnight on May 28 last year. Prison officers and army personnel arrested Mohd Sani at Tutong Camp the next day.

Both pleaded guilty.

Azmi would also a four-year jail sentence and a fine of $2,000 or four months in default for a drug offence brought against him by NCB Prosecuting officer Pg Othman Pg Hj Ali yesterday. Azmi was convicted of possession of Methylamphetamine and utensils for taking controlled drugs and consumption of Syabu and Codeine. (Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin)

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