T

he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) officially opened its newly-renovated military prison facility in Guntur, South Jakarta, on Wednesday as a new detention center for graft suspects, adding an air of notoriety to the facility that is known for housing political prisoners during the New Order regime.

The KPK will manage a 365-square-meter piece of land inside the detention facility, located on Jl. Guntur, only a few kilometers from the KPK headquarters on Jl. Rasuna Said, Kuningan, South Jakarta.

For the time being, the KPK will operate three 5-by-2 meter cells, which can house two detainees. Inside each cell, the KPK has placed two beds and two cupboards for use by detainees.

Although workers have painted the walls and installed electric fans in each cell, the air inside feels damp, probably from the water inside the toilets installed at the back.

The KPK is expected to expand its renovation project at the facility by constructing another 14 cells and installing new buildings that in total could house 38 detainees.

KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto said the new reconstruction project would start in January 2013 and wrap up July 2013.

“We will build the detention facility very carefully as it has been specifically designed for graft suspects. We have also consulted with Komnas HAM [the National Commission on Human Rights] so that we can accommodate the basic rights of the prisoners,” he told press conference at the detention facility on Wednesday.

Bambang said he expected a smart security system would be installed at the detention facility, which could reduce the number of interactions between detainees and prison guards.

“It is important to prevent illicit practices such as bribery and other common problems in our penitentiary system that result from relationships between detainees and prison guards,” he said.

Col. Dedy Iswanto, the head of Guntur military detention facility, said that he would step up security measures within the facility.

He said that anyone without authorization from the KPK would not be allowed to enter the facility.

There will also be a clear separation between the KPK and military activities.

“We have also set up a standard operating procedure over the management of activities within the military facility. Activities of the military detention facility will not interfere with those of the KPK,” he said.

Dedy said that there would be two security rings within the facility. The inner ring, where the detainees are to be kept, would be managed by the KPK, while the outer ring, where members of the military will be able to run their operation, will be managed by the military.

KPK spokesperson Johan Budi said that the commission would apply strict visiting hours. Visitors must first register with the KPK headquarters on Jl. Rasuna Said before being given clearance to enter Guntur.

“Visitors will only be able to come on Monday and Thursday between 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.,” he said.

Johan said no privileges in visiting hours would be given to detainees.

Media reports have said that in detention centers run by the National Police and the director general for corrections, graft suspects could freely meet visitors as well as bribe prison guards into providing extra services.

The KPK earmarked Rp 2.5 billion (US$259,255) from its 2012 budget for the reconstruction of its detention center. It was allowed to use Guntur after signing a 2005 deal with the Indonesian Military (TNI).

The reconstruction project began in early 2012, when the KPK was engaged in a standoff with the National Police Traffic Corps (Korlantas) over the handling of a graft case involving the former chief of the corps, Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo.