Nivell Rayda, Nurfika Osman and Ulma Haryanto

KPK’s Second Chance at Special Corruption Jail

Having seen the luxuries afforded by the rich and the corrupt in prison, the House of Representatives has opted to reverse an earlier decision, urging the Corruption Eradication Commission to resubmit a previous proposal to build its own prison and detention facility, a top commission member said.

Bibit Samad Rianto, deputy chairman of the commission, also known as the KPK, said on Tuesday that members of the House’s Commission III, which oversees legal affairs, expressed concern about how the rich were pampered in prison, following a recent surprise inspection of the Pondok Bambu Women’s Penitentiary in East Jakarta.

Bibit pointed out that just last year the same House commission had rejected the KPK’s request for Rp 93 billion ($9.95 million) to establish its own prison and detention facilities for corruption convicts and suspects.

“House members enthusiastically said we should resubmit our proposals,” he told the Jakarta Globe on Tuesday. “It is a far cry from last year’s hearing.”

Bibit said the KPK would present its proposal during its next hearing with the House in April.

LCD televisions, luxury mattresses and air-conditioning were among the amenities made available to bribery convict Artalyta Suryani and graft convict Darmawati Dareho, as seen during the nationally televised inspection of Pondok Bambu.

Artalyta was found enjoying a facial treatment in a special room on the building’s third floor.

Her own private cell measured 64-square-meters, enough to accommodate at least two more inmates from the overcrowded penitentiary. Artalyta was found using a mobile phone during her detention at the Jakarta Metro Police.

The businesswoman was convicted of fabricating testimonies with a co-defendant, senior prosecutor Urip Tri Gunawan.

Artalyta has since been relocated to the Tangerang Penitentiary in Banten to complete her five-year sentence.

Urip is now serving an unprecedented 20 years at a prison in Bandung, West Java.

Following the inspection, the House interrogated 25 state officials and recommended that the Justice Ministry take action against eight who were directly involved with the operation of the Pondok Bambu penitentiary.

The prison’s chief, Sarju Wibowo, has been suspended.

Asjudin Rana, chief of Jakarta’s Pentientiary Office, and Murdiyanto, chief of correctional facilities, resigned in the wake of the revelations.

“They resigned because they were irresponsible and failed to monitor what was going on at Pondok Bambu, and specifically at Artalyta’s cell,” said Bambang Winahyo, a top official at the Justice and Human Rights Ministry, adding that both had worked at the ministry for more than 30 years.

“They were going to retire in the next six months. However, we appreciate what they have done for their country,” he said.

The ministry is planning a reshuffle at the Directorate-General of Penitentiaries in February, Bambang said.

KPK Deputy Chairman Chandra Hamzah said establishing the KPK’s own prison and detention facility is instrumental in deterring corruption.

“Corruption convicts enjoy special privileges because they have money. At our facility we could ensure that they don’t get special treatment. It is also safer for the graft convicts and suspects, who may face danger from their fellow inmates,” he said.

The KPK currently places all graft suspects at detention facilities in several Jakarta police stations.

Your View

See Result