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Police probe alleged extortion at Pekanbaru detention center
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Escaped inmates recaptured by the police look out of a window at the Sialang Bungkuk Detention Center in Pekanbaru, Riau on May 5. (Antara/Rony Muharman)
T
he National Police are investigating allegations of extortion at the Sialang Bungkuk Detention Center in Pekanbaru, Riau, where there was recently a jailbreak.
Insp. Gen. Gufron, the head of the National Police’s illegal levies task force (Saber Pungli), and his team visited the Sialang Bungkuk Detention Center on Wednesday morning.
A jailbreak took place on Friday, during which 448 prisoners escaped. Extortion and inhumane treatment were allegedly the reasons behind the jailbreak. Plagued with overcapacity, the situation at the center has been worsened by alleged extortion by prison guards.
Usman, a parent of one of the inmates, claimed that he had paid Rp 7 million (US$525) for his son to be transferred from a small cell of 80 people. He said he also had to pay Rp 50,000 whenever he wanted to visit his son, tribunnews.com reported.
A woman identified as Erlina claimed she had paid Rp 2.5 million for her brother to be transferred to a more comfortable cell.
Police data show that as of Wednesday, 309 of the escaped inmates had been recaptured or had surrendered to the police while 139 others were still at large. (mrc/rin)
