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Nazaruddin’s Late-Night Activities in Prison in Spotlight
Rizky Amelia & Ezra Sihite | February 10, 2012

Court proceedings in the trial of Muhammad Nazaruddin were delayed four hours on Wednesday because the graft defendant, who has complained of health problems, said he had to get a massage. JG Photo/Afriadi Hikmal Court proceedings in the trial of Muhammad Nazaruddin were delayed four hours on Wednesday because the graft defendant, who has complained of health problems, said he had to get a massage. JG Photo/Afriadi Hikmal
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agentmacgyver
11:27am Feb 10, 2012

Have we forgotten a certain very well-connected prisoner several years ago was even known to have been allowed professional female companionship?

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Graft suspect Muhammad Nazaruddin, who has lobbed corruption allegations at a string of high-profile officials, has been receiving late-night visitors at his prison cell, according to an official at the Justice and Human Rights Ministry.

A surprise inspection at Cipinang Penitentiary caught Nazaruddin meeting with his cousin, lawmaker Muhammad Nasir, attorney Djufri Taufik and several other people at 11 p.m., according to Denny Indrayana, the deputy minister.

Visiting hours are from 10 a.m. and noon, and 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Denny said the visitors claimed that Nazaruddin was ill, which meant they could visit him outside official visiting hours.

“But at such a late hour, when would Nazaruddin have rested?” he said.

Nazaruddin, the Democratic Party’s former treasurer, is the main suspect in a graft case surrounding the construction of the Southeast Asian Games athletes’ village in Palembang. He is being detained at Cipinang in East Jakarta during his trial at the Anti-Corruption Court.

Though prison staff would have allowed the visitors in, Denny took pains to defend them. He said it was likely they had been pressured to allow the after-hour visits.

“We don’t think they can be blamed because Nazaruddin’s family and friends often threaten them,” he said.

He added that Nasir, from the ruling Democratic Party, often used his status as lawmaker to get his way.

Denny said ultimately it was his responsibility as deputy minister to ensure that regulations were being followed at all of the country’s prisons.

Many people have said it is no secret that wealthy convicts pay for special treatment in prison.

In 2010, an inspection at the Pondok Bambu women’s prison found graft convict Artalyta Suryani living in the veritable lap of luxury, with a special air-conditioned cell that was connected to a 64-square-meter room.

A judicial corruption squad also found special treatment being given to Liem Marita, who was jailed for drugs. She had a large bed, a refrigerator, a living room complete with sofa, a cassette player and a work table. The squad also found a karaoke room with a television.

The prisoners also had their cellphones with them.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), which is investigating the Sea Games scandal, said it would talk to the Human Rights Ministry and the Anti-Corruption Court about Nazaruddin’s unauthorized late-night visits.

To address the issue in the longer term, KPK spokesman Johan Budi said the antigraft body was working on having holding cells built in the basement of its building in South Jakarta.

“We are now having three or four cells built in our basement,” he said.