Misbehaved prison staff will be fired: minister

Law and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar has warned that he will fire prison guards who use violence and impose unofficial fees upon prisoners and visitors.

“I don’t want to hear any prison staff misbehaving by charging fees to the public who come to visit prisoners,” Patrialis said during his visit to Mamuju, West Sulawesi, Saturday, as quoted by tempointeraktif.com. “If anyone commits such an act, report them to me and I will dismiss them dishonorably.”

Patrialis said such a warning had to be delivered to save the image of his ministry.

“Many people have complained about fees imposed on them upon entering prison guard doors. Therefore, these have to be stopped so that the image of the Law and Human Rights Ministry can improve,” he said.

Patrialis added that he was aware of the use of violence towards inmates by prison guards.

“I have found a prisoner who was suffering from a life-long disability. It turned out that it was the prison guards who physically tortured him,” Patrialis said. 

He instructed prison staffers to provide fair service to prisoners and visitors. (awd)