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Pondok Bambu chief warden dismissed
Justice and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar decided Tuesday to suspend the chief warden of the Pondok Bambu prison, Sarju Wibowo, who is being blamed for the luxurious lifestyle afforded to affluent inmates at the prison
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ustice and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar decided Tuesday to suspend the chief warden of the Pondok Bambu prison, Sarju Wibowo, who is being blamed for the luxurious lifestyle afforded to affluent inmates at the prison.
“Catur Budi Patayati will replace Sarju as acting chief warden,” he said.
He added he had ordered the inspector general to investigate all officials, including Sarju’s predecessors, who were also allegedly involved in similar power abuse cases.
Patrialis commended the judicial corruption tasks force for uncovering the luxury facilities affluent inmates enjoyed in their air-conditioned cells at the penitentiary.
The task force visited the cell of Artalyta Suryani, serving a four-year prison sentence, among others,
Her large air-conditioned cell had televisions, karaoke machines, refrigerators, a maid and a bathroom, while most cells were overcrowded.
Patrialis also said he would replace chief wardens at all prisons nationwide to renew prison management.
“Many have occupied their position at the same prison for up to 10 years. We have to replace them to prevent them from building ‘kingdoms’ [in the prisons],” he added.
Patrialis said there would be an annual reshuffle starting this year.
He added all regulations, including internal rulings, would be enforced in prisons and detention centers and harsh fines would be imposed on those caught abusing their power in a bid to purge prisons of case brokers and crime.
“We hope there will no longer be any discrimination in prisons by month-end,” he said.
A team from the ministry’s inspectorate general questioned Artalyta and several other inmates before ordering them to return the luxury facilities to their families.
Patrialis also said he was considering moving affluent inmates to other prisons to prevent them from purchasing similar treatment and facilities.
Masdar F. Mas’udi, the deputy chairman of the country’s largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, said the prison system should be reviewed as it was not effective in deterring would-be criminals.
“There are indications that prisons have become or function as [criminal] academies. The more time people spend locked up, the more professional their [criminal] activities become,” he said.
He added law enforcement officials should treat suspects as criminals and build special prisons for serious corruption convicts to prevent them from getting special treatment.
Emerson Yuntho from Indonesia Corruption Watch said the justice minister should take firm action not only against chief wardens.
“The minister should also investigate officials [tasked with supervising prisons] who may have received bribes from inmates and their relatives,” he said.
