Hindu inmates to get remissions

Around 85 Hindu inmates at Kerobokan Prison near a Kuta holiday resort will get remission from 15 to 45 days in conjunction with the Nyepi Day of Silence, which falls Saturday.

Siswanto, head of Kerobokan Prison, said that the 85 inmates were considered to have behaved well during their imprisonment period.

Around 72 of the 85 parole receivers are those who committed general crimes, while 10 others are those involved in drugs and narcotics cases.

Three of the 85 inmates will walk free on March 10 after granting their paroles.

Siswanto said that the remissions would be granted to those who had served their imprisonment period for at least six months.

He added that there were 151 Hindu prisoners at Kerobokan who would observe Nyepi this weekend.

“We grant remissions during religious holidays such as Idul Fitri Muslim Holidays, Christmas and New Year celebrations, and general remissions on Indonesian Independence Day, which falls on Aug. 17,” he said.

He also added that the Law and Human Rights Ministry would likely grant more remissions and conditional freedom for inmates at Kerobokan as the prison has set a record high housing 1,001 prisoners, beyond its 323-person capacity.

“There are 678 additional inhabitants, around 200 percent beyond the prison’s real capacity,” he said.

Currently, he said, one prison guard monitored 100 prisoners. Ideally, he added, one guard should being responsible for only five inmates.

Siswanto also said Kerobokan Prison also housed 49 foreign inmates from 20 countries including the so-called “drug queen” Schapelle Corby and members of the Bali Nine group who were imprisoned for trafficking narcotics.

Four of the foreign inmates were given death sentences, while 17 of them received life sentences.

“We have to carefully treat foreign inmates, as officials of their consulate offices here in Bali frequently visit to monitor their citizens,” he said.

Sri Wirastuti, a medical doctor at the prison clinic, said that the condition of Kerobokan Prison was unacceptable for 1,001 prisoners.

“The prison has limited sanitation facilities and inadequate cell facilities. The overcrowded cells might cause various health problems.”

The doctor explained that many prisoners were drug users, who might carry contagious diseases such as Hepatitis B.

The prison now houses adult male and female inmates as well as children and teenagers.