Avriella Adinda, Heru Yustanto, Jakarta – Indonesia's Ombudsman has uncovered a cluster of villa-like residences with varying room types, luxury facilities, alcohol bottles and several luxury cars inside Cibinong Class IIA Prison in Bogor, West Java, raising questions over whether some facilities were being commercially used by inmates.
The findings came during an unannounced inspection on Sept. 23, Ombudsman member Syafrida R Rasahan said at a news conference Thursday.
The team found several buildings resembling villas, homestays, and row houses, as well as a parking area, gym, swimming pool, and a golf simulator under construction.
"The facilities appear to have different purposes, but there also seems to be some standardization, similar to accommodation with suite, deluxe and superior rooms," Safrida said.
One of the buildings inspected contained a sofa, refrigerator, television, and dining table. The Ombudsman also said it found used alcohol bottles and alcoholic beverages inside a refrigerator.
Syafrida said the team encountered an inmate inside one of the buildings. Based on an interview, the inmate told investigators that he had paid to stay there, although he did not disclose the amount.
The Ombudsman said this raised concerns that some of the accommodations could have been commercialized or provided as special facilities for certain inmates.
The team also documented several vehicles it described as luxury cars. Ombudsman member Fikri Yasin said the agency would coordinate with the National Police's Traffic Corps to identify the registered owners and determine whether the vehicles were connected to inmates at the prison.
The inspection began at about 9:45 a.m. Wednesday, when Syafrida, Fikri, and Ombudsman staff arrived with an official assignment letter. Prison officials initially did not allow them to enter and asked them to wait for instructions from the warden.
After about 30 minutes, the team moved to a canteen inside the complex while waiting for journalists to arrive. From there, Syafrida noticed a wooden fence about 100 meters away and asked prison officials about the area.
They were told it contained the prison warden's official residence. The Ombudsman team then entered the area and discovered the buildings and facilities.
The West Java Directorate General of Corrections said the facilities had legitimate official uses.
West Java Corrections Office head Yudi Suseno said the area was part of the prison's Educational and Assimilation Facilities and included official residences authorized under decrees issued by the director general.
He said authorities would investigate if the facilities were found to have been used improperly.
The Ombudsman said it would conduct further inquiries into the findings and urged the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the facilities, prison personnel and supervision system at Cibinong prison.
Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/ombudsman-finds-luxury-rooms-cars-and-golf-simulator-at-w-java-priso