Thai media reported that the inmates sawed through their cell bars and fled the detention facility in Rayong, 90 miles south of Bangkok, after televised coverage of the match began at 2 a.m. local time yesterday.
Officials rejected speculation that lax attention because of the World Cup enabled the escape, telling Thai radio that heavy rain at the time prevented officers from making their customary external rounds of the jail.
Thirty-two more inmates could have escaped but did not, possibly out of fear, Thai radio said.
The escapees, six serving time for vagrancy and two for assault and rape, were still at large late yesterday.
07-06-98
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