Bailiffs blamed after suspect's window leap

A court in Nantong, Jiangsu province, has suspended bailiffs for failing to guard a handcuffed drug trafficking suspect who escaped during a hearing.

The 33-year-old suspect, Ma Tingjiang, escaped the court building by jumping out a second-floor window on June 26. Police have offered a 50,000 yuan ($7,550) reward for information leading to his capture.

The court, in the city's economic and technological development district, said the bailiffs were suspended on Wednesday and are under investigation.

The court also accepted responsibility for the suspect's escape, citing a lack of safety consciousness, improper police force arrangements and violation of police escort regulations.

The suspect, classified as "extremely dangerous", was jailed for 13 years for robbery in 2005 but was released after serving nine years. He was rearrested by Nantong police in December for drug trafficking.

On the evening of June 27, an image of a man resembling the suspect was caught by a camera in a local restaurant. The photo shows a man wearing different clothes and with handcuffs removed.