Inmate escapes Singkep Barat Police cell using smuggled saw, caught hours later while reuniting with wife
A dramatic prison break unfolded in Lingga Regency when an inmate escaped by cutting through his cell’s iron bars with a hidden saw. The escape triggered an intense manhunt that ended less than 24 hours later with his recapture at a local café.
The Great Escape
On Tuesday night, July 8, 2025, at approximately 8:00 PM WIB, Rusliansyah, an inmate at the Singkep Barat Police Station, initiated a meticulously planned escape. Using a small hacksaw allegedly smuggled in by his wife during a visitation, he began slicing through four steel bars of his holding cell.
According to AKBP Pahala Martua Nababan, Police Chief of Lingga, the inmate worked in intervals ranging from 10 minutes to an hour, cleverly disguising the noise by running the water tap. After five hours of cutting, Rusliansyah managed to slip through the opening by 2:00 AM and exited the facility unnoticed.
On the Run
Once outside, Rusliansyah fled toward Embung Bukit Tumang and hitchhiked with a passing motorist to reach his wife in Kampung Baru. He later borrowed a motorbike from a friend named Tio, evading police as he moved toward the forest near Air Panas, Desa Berindat, where he temporarily went into hiding.
The manhunt intensified by early Wednesday morning. Law enforcement coordinated across the Lingga Police and local units, gathering intelligence from multiple sources, including family and acquaintances of the fugitive.
A Breakthrough via WhatsApp
The turning point came at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, July 9, when Selmaya Sastri, a friend of Rusliansyah’s wife, tipped off police via WhatsApp. She revealed that the fugitive planned to pick up his wife at Kedai Atian, Kampung Baru. Officers quickly set up an ambush at the café.
Just ten minutes later, Rusliansyah arrived at the location and was immediately apprehended by a joint team from Singkep Barat Police and Lingga Police Headquarters. During the arrest, officer Briptu Petrus sustained a minor knee injury, while Rusliansyah suffered light abrasions to his head and limbs.
Breach in Security Under Review
The incident has triggered an internal review into the Singkep Barat detention facility’s visitor procedures and cell security. IPTU Henry Gunawan, head of Singkep Barat Police, emphasized the need for immediate evaluation and procedural tightening.
Police are now probing the role of the wife and how the saw was successfully smuggled in. “We suspect a breach during visitation hours, and this is under active investigation,” Henry confirmed.
Criminal History and Legal Consequences
Rusliansyah had been held for attempting to burglarize a house in Air Merah on June 20, 2025. Following the failed escape, he has been transferred to the Lingga Police Headquarters for tighter custody. Legal proceedings will likely include new charges for attempted escape and conspiracy involving external parties.
This incident sheds light on a pressing issue in regional detention facilities—security vulnerabilities during visitation hours. The rapid response and coordination that led to the fugitive’s recapture highlight law enforcement’s ability to mobilize swiftly. The case also raises serious questions about internal monitoring and the ease with which external tools can infiltrate even controlled environments. For Indonesians and Singaporeans alike, this story is a stark reminder of the importance of prison oversight and robust internal protocols.
Sources: Batam Pos (2025) , Kabarbatam.com (2025)
Keywords: Lingga Police, Rusliansyah Escape, Prison Break, Jail Security Breach, Smuggled Saw, Inmate Recaptured
