Indonesia suspends five prison officials over 'luxury cells' scandal

Indonesia has suspended five senior officials at Cibinong Prison after an Ombudsman inspection uncovered villa-like residences for selected inmates, Al Jazeera reported.

The suspensions were announced on Tuesday 29 September by Rudi Setiawan, inspector-general of the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, and cover the warden and the heads of security, guidance and education, security and order, and general affairs. “We have suspended five structural officials who are suspected of being responsible for the incident uncovered by the Ombudsman,” Setiawan said.

An unannounced Ombudsman inspection on 23 September found more than 10 residential units separate from the main blocks at the Class 2A facility in Bogor, West Java — villa-style residences, homestay units, luxury cars, a gym and a golf simulator under construction. Inspectors were initially refused entry despite an official assignment letter, Ombudsman member Syafrida Rachmawati Rasahan said, before reaching the fenced compound about 100 metres away.

Inside were a sofa, refrigerator, television and dining table; bottles of alcohol in one fridge, and one occupant identified himself as an inmate. The Ombudsman said there were strong indications certain inmates received special facilities. The Jakarta Post, via CNA, reported an allegation that one inmate had paid 160,000 rupiah (US$8.90) a week to stay there.

Prison officers claimed the buildings were “assimilation houses” tied to reintegration programmes. The prison holds convicted corruption offenders, though the compound’s inmates have not been officially identified. Tempo reported 52 inmates had been questioned as of 26 September, with inspections involving 54 staff scheduled.