Four 'Jailbreakers' Spotted In Brunei
By Narissa Noor

Bandar Seri Begawan - Four "inmates" escaped from Dartmoor Prison, United Kingdom last Saturday, and have been spotted here in Brunei.

Locals are told to be on the lookout for the "escapees": Gordon Spark aka Sparksy, Brian Cross, Joseph Louei aka the Italian Stallion, and Salvatore Natale aka Salvo. Dubbed "Have a Ball and Chain with Sparksy", their escape is part of the 25th Dartmoor Charity Jailbreak, involving different teams whose aim is to travel as fir as possible without spending a penny.

The felons arrived in the country yesterday, sponsored by Royal Brunei Airlines, after a series of fundraising events in the UK, a few shopping-related disappearing acts in Dubai by one team member.

Dressed in their prison uniforms, the "escapees" sat down for an interview with the media at Sheraton Utama Hotel, who is sponsoring their accommodation for their five-day stay in the country.

Each member of the team is representing a different charity, and they have come to Brunei not only to raise money, but also to immerse themselves in what the country has to offer.

Sparksy, a popular radio personality for the BBC, and a cancer survivor, is currently on the run for the Mustard Tree at the Macmillan Cancer Support Centre, which improves the lives of people affected by cancer.

Meanwhile, Salvo's jailbreak is for the Chestnut Appeal for Prostate Cancer, which provides treatment, support and information for men and their families. He is a Sicilian-born urologist at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.

Having been in the country for the 2002 charity jailbreak, Cross is escaping prison for the second time, and is doing it for St Luke's Hospital, which cares for patients with terminal or life-limiting illnesses.

Iranian-born Joseph Louei, meanwhile, is a restaurateur, hotelier and owner ofAstor Hotel; and is involved with several other charities.

The team will meet with Tourism Department Director Sheikh Jamaluddin bin Sheikh Mohamed, British High Commissioner in Brunei Darussalam Mr John Saville, and RBA Chief Executive Officer Ray Sayer.

They also plan to provide special gifts to local children as well as conduct several goodwill visits.

"We also hope to get in touch with local charities and work together with them to raise money," they said. "We wouldn't be able to get where we are today without everyone's help."

They added that while in Brunei, they will "promote Plymouth... and Brunei as well".

So far, the team has raised close to 12,000 Sterling pounds, and aims to break the 15,000-pound mark. To make donation for their causes, visit www.jailbreaking.org.uk. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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