T

he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said on Sunday that it had imposed disciplinary sanctions against nine graft detainees following the finding of smuggled items such as cell phones and Wi-Fi modems during a recent inspection it conducted at its detention center in Jakarta.

Among the nine graft detainees are former Constitutional Court chief justice Akil Mochtar, former Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum, property developer PT Sentul City president director Cahyadi Kumala and younger brother of suspended Banten governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah and politically wired businessman Tubagus Chaeri '€œWawan'€ Wardana.

KPK spokesman Priharsa Nugraha said that the nine graft detainees would be denied visits for one month following the violations, adding that the antigraft body suspected that the detainees'€™ visiting family members had brought the prohibited items to the KPK detention center.

'€œWe found nine cell phones, three power banks and Wi-Fi modems at the detention center. Consequently, we have slapped sanctions on the nine detainees. They cannot receive any visitors for 30 days, except for their lawyers,'€ Priharsa said in Jakarta on Sunday.

There are 22 graft suspects and convicts currently detained at the KPK detention center located at its headquarters in South Jakarta.

Priharsa further said that the nine graft detainees had lent their cell phones to those who did not receive any smuggled items from their family members. Priharsa added that the antigraft body was currently investigating other ways the graft detainees might be able to get their hands on prohibited items.

'€œWe are currently probing other channels they might have. As of now, there is strong indication that the prohibited items were smuggled through graft detainees'€™ visiting family members,'€ Priharsa said.

Family members of graft detainees are allowed to visit the KPK detention center on Monday'€™s from 10 a.m. until 11:59 a.m. and Thursday'€™s from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.

In addition to the visitation rules, the KPK also allows family members and convicts to visit the KPK detention center on national holidays.

However, Priharsa said that in a move to stop family members from smuggling prohibited items into the detention center, the KPK had decided against allowing family members from visiting the detention center during the Islamic New Year holiday on Saturday.

'€œThe KPK decided not to open the detention center to visitors during the national holiday on Saturday. The policy applies to all graft detainees,'€ Priharsa went on.

The antigraft body previously imposed disciplinary sanctions against graft convict Akil Mochtar, who has been sentenced to life in prison, for getting into a fight with another graft detainee at the KPK detention center during the Idul Fitri holiday.