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raid conducted by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) over the weekend has shown that far from rehabilitating graft convicts, prison sentences in fact provide incentives for them to continue in their old ways, further compromising an already corrupt penal system.

In the early hours of Saturday, KPK investigators launched a raid that ended in the arrest of Fahmi Darmawansyah, a businessman convicted in 2017 in a corruption case pertaining to a Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) procurement project, and Wahid Husein, the warden of Sukamiskin Penitentiary in Bandung, West Java. Also arrested was Fahmi’s wife, former actress and catwalk model Inneke Koesherawati.

Wahid is alleged to have accepted bribes from Fahmi to allow him to stay in a nicely appointed prison cell equipped with air conditioning, cable television, a fridge and a small kitchen. Following the raid, KPK investigators seized two luxury sport utility vehicles (SUV) and Rp 279 million (US$19,271) and $1,410 in cash.

Wahid, who took over as warden only in March, was alleged to have accepted the two SUVs from Fahmi.

During the raid, KPK investigators also found evidence that Wahid had accepted between Rp 200 million and Rp 500 million in bribes from inmates to get upgraded cells.

“From our initial investigation, we found that graft convicts could get such cells at a price ranging from Rp 200 million to Rp 500 million,” KPK deputy chairman Laode Muhammad Syarif said during a press briefing on Saturday.

A video clip that made the rounds on social media over the weekend showed a cell inside Sukamiskin resembling a decent studio apartment, complete with air conditioning, hot shower, a flat-screen television and a pantry equipped with a small fridge.

In Saturday’s raid, KPK investigators also arrested Sukamiskin prison guard Hendry Saputra as well as two inmates, Fahmi and Andri Rahmat, who were convicted of general crimes. Data from the Law and Human Rights Ministry show there are 354 graft convicts among the total 444 inmates in Sukamiskin.

Hendry and Andri allegedly acted as intermediaries between Wahid and Fahmi in a scheme to hand over the cars as a bribe.

During the operation, KPK investigators found fresh evidence that could reinforce the perception of Sukamiskin Penitentiary as a sanctuary for graft convicts.

At the time of the raid, two graft convicts were missing from their cells. The graft convicts were former Bangkalan, East Java, regent Fuad Amin and well-connected businessman Tubagus Chaeri Wardana, the brother of former Banten governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah, who are serving 13 years and seven years, respectively for graft.

Later on Saturday, the Law and Human Rights Ministry claimed Wawan had returned to his cell, while Fuad was getting treatment at Borromeus Hospital in Bandung.

KPK leaders warned that widespread corruption inside the prison undermined efforts to deter potential graft convicts from committing the crime.

“This will hinder the effort to create a deterrent effect as inmates can pay for special facilities while they are in prison. We can’t blame this on only a few people, as we found several similar cells in Sukamiskin,” KPK deputy chairman Saut Situmorang said.

Sukamiskin Penitentiary has become the go-to prison for major graft convicts, including former House of Representatives speaker Setya Novanto, former Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum, Democratic Party treasurer M. Nazaruddin and former Constitutional Court chief justice Akil Mochtar.

This is not the first time Sukamiskin has been in the spotlight for prisoners enjoying special privileges.

Last year, several inmates, including businessman Anggoro Widjojo, who was found guilty of bribing lawmakers, and former forestry minister MS Kaban, abused medical-appointment permits to visit relatives or to go shopping.

In 2010, former tax official Gayus Tambunan, who was imprisoned in Sukamiskin for embezzlement, was spotted watching an international tennis tournament in Bali.

The Law and Human Rights Ministry has apologized for the lapses and pledged to launch an investigation in response to the KPK’s raid.

“We are conducting a complete revitalization of our organization. It will be conducted comprehensively,” said Sri Puguh Budi Utami, the ministry’s correctional affairs director general.