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nconfirmed reports about wealthy inmates who have been given the luxury to leave prison have been now most definitely confirmed. Law and Human Rights Minister Amir Syamsuddin and his deputy Denny Indrayana discovered on Sunday that several inmates, including some graft convicts, at Cipinang penitentiary in East Jakarta frequently left their cells to seek treatment at local hospitals without proper documentation or a system to monitor their absence.

It was the second impromptu visit by the minister and his deputy to the East Jakarta prison in many months. They decided to return after their previous visit last month failed to find evidence of irregularities, as several inmates who were reportedly let out of their cells were in the prison when Amir and his deputy arrived.

The snap inspection was not conducted without reason. It followed an anonymous tip that said that inmates Yusak Yaluwo, Kasnan bin Wong Loi Kong and Amang Suratman had left the prison and were receiving medical treatment at a West Jakarta hospital.

However, the snap inspection at the hospital ended in failure, as the hospital's database showed that the inmates had already left. The officials returned to the prison, where they found that the three inmates in question, in addition to several others, were receiving treatment at local hospitals or on loan to the National Police. Missing was any information on how long the prisoners would be gone or when they might return.

The failure of prison officials to document the movement of the inmates and their inability compile reports on the status of inmates to be forwarded to the ministry were not the only problems. There was also a poor system in place at the West Jakarta hospital. The minister eventually returned to the hospital to learn that admission data for Yusak was 'eventually' available, indicating that he had been put up at a VIP room in the hospital. These accommodations were obviously much better than his Cipinang prison cell.

Securing permission for medical treatment outside prison has become the last scam used by inmates, particularly wealthy ones, to escape their life behind bars, at least for a certain period of time.

However, this is ethically ' and legally wrong. Firm action must be taken, not only against the inmates, but also the officials who have let them go out of prison.