Inmate swap implicates officials, attorney

JAKARTA: Prosecutors, an attorney, and a prison employee have been implicated in a convict’s scheme to have someone else serve her sentence at Bojonegoro prison in East Java.

The woman, Kasiem, sought to avoid seven months’ imprisonment for corruption charges by allegedly paying Karni, a woman from Jipang, Bojonegoro, Rp 10 million (US$1,110) to serve her prison
sentence.

“The correctional facility can’t accept new people without valid information from prosecutors,” prison spokesman Chandra Nestiyono said, adding that there would be an inquiry about the switch, as reported by kompas.com news portal.

Although Kasiem surrendered herself to the Bojonegoro prosecutor’s office on Dec. 27, she was replaced by Karni on the way to prison. Hasnomo, Kasiem’s attorney; Priyono from the prosecutor’s office and a prison staff member have been implicated in the switch. — JP