French fugitive Felix Dorfin recaptured by Indonesian police after escaping jail
- Felix Dorfin was arrested in September allegedly carrying a false-bottomed suitcase filled with 4kg of drugs
A French drug suspect on the run since escaping from an Indonesian jail nearly two weeks ago has been recaptured, police said on Saturday.
Felix Dorfin – who faces the death penalty if convicted – was found hiding in a forest in North Lombok on Friday night, police said, and was returned to jail in Mataram, capital of the island. Wearing dishevelled black clothes and looking tired, Dorfin initially tried to bribe officers to let him go.
“He didn’t resist arrest, but wanted to bribe our officers,” North Lombok police chief Herman Suriyono said on Saturday, adding he was found following a tip-off from locals in the area.
After being checked by medical teams he was returned to jail.
The 35-year-old Frenchman was arrested in September allegedly carrying a false-bottomed suitcase filled with 4kg of drugs – including cocaine, ecstasy and amphetamines – at the airport on the holiday island next to Bali.
On Friday officials said a female police officer had been arrested for allegedly helping Dorfin escape in exchange for 14.5 million Indonesian rupiah (around US$1,000).