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More guards suspected of assisting drug trade in prisons
Whose side are they on?: Prison officers walk in front of the entrance of Nusakambangan Penitentiary in Cilacap regency, Central Java
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Whose side are they on?: Prison officers walk in front of the entrance of Nusakambangan Penitentiary in Cilacap regency, Central Java. National Narcotics Agency (BNN) reports reveal that the drug trade operated by inmates from inside the prison is supported by prison officials. (JP/Agus Maryono) (BNN) reports reveal that the drug trade operated by inmates from inside the prison is supported by prison officials. (JP/Agus Maryono)
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span class="inline inline-center">Whose side are they on?: Prison officers walk in front of the entrance of Nusakambangan Penitentiary in Cilacap regency, Central Java. National Narcotics Agency (BNN) reports reveal that the drug trade operated by inmates from inside the prison is supported by prison officials. (JP/Agus Maryono)
The Law and Human Rights Ministry is investigating reports on the drug business allegedly operated by inmates in a number of prisons, including Nusakambangan Penitentiary in Cilacap, Central Java, a minister has said.
Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly said in Jakarta on Tuesday that recent reports from the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) also revealed the drug trade inside the prisons was supported by prison guards.
'Six inmates are reported to have operated the drug trade from inside the prisons, one of which is Nusakambangan,' said Yasonna in Jakarta on Tuesday.
He said he had ordered the directors of correctional institution affairs in the prisons to isolate the six inmates.
The trade in drugs allegedly controlled from inside Nusakambangan Penitentiary is said to be conducted by inmates experienced in the illegal business, with support from security guards in the prison. The prison most often used for drug smuggling is the Narcotics prison, one of six on Nusakambangan Island, Cilacap regency, Central Java.
Nusakambangan Penitentiary is one of biggest prisons in Indonesia, with around 1,500 inmates whose sentences are mostly above five years. All inmates have been convicted for serious offenses, including terrorism and drug smuggling. Fifty inmates serving sentences in Nusakambangan are on death row, including Hartoni, a drug operator who sentence was increased after he was caught directing a drug operation from inside the prison.
The Narcotics prison on Nusakambangan is monitored by an enhanced security system, but with support from security guards, many inmates trading drugs have been able to circumvent the system, allowing them to conduct illegal business from inside.
In March 2011, the BNN revealed that a large drug network operated inside the Narcotics prison on Nusakambangan, involving three senior prison officials, including Marwan Adli, the prison's head.
Marwan, who was arrested together with two lower ranking officials, allegedly facilitated drug businesses operated by Hartoni and his men from inside the prison.
In the trial, it was revealed that billions of rupiah went to Marwan, who then used the money to conduct other businesses operated by his sons and grandchildren.
In 2012, the Cilacap District Court's judge panel sentenced Marwan to 13 years in prison and Rp 10 billion (US$813,670) fine for abusing his authority.
Meanwhile, his two staff members - security division head Iwan Syaefudin and correctional affairs head Fob Budiyono - were sentenced to seven years in prison and ordered to pay a Rp 1 billion fine each. (ebf)
