Indonesia demolishes 10 'apartment' units inside prison

Indonesian authorities on Wednesday began demolishing 10 “apartment” units inside a West Java prison after their discovery triggered an investigation into preferential treatment for inmates.

Corrections Director-General Mashudi led the demolition at Cibinong Class IIA Prison in Bogor, Indonesian state news agency Antara reported.

“All 10 units. It will be finished today,” Mashudi said as heavy machinery tore down buildings inside the prison compound.

The demolition followed an agreement between the House of Representatives’ Commission XIII and the Immigration and Corrections Ministry during a visit to the prison, according to Antara.

Ministry Inspector General Rudi Setiawan said the buildings and facilities had been documented and inventoried before demolition.

A preliminary investigation found they were not financed through Indonesia’s state budget but were built independently, the news agency reported.

Indonesia’s Ombudsman uncovered the compound during a surprise inspection on Sept. 23, finding apartment-style accommodation allegedly occupied by inmates.

The units included air conditioners, large televisions, refrigerators, sofas and dining areas, according to the Ombudsman findings reported by Antara.

Investigators also found a gym and a golf simulator under construction.

The Immigration and Corrections Ministry subsequently suspended five officials, including Cibinong prison chief Wisnu Hani Putranto, while investigating the findings.

Dozens of inmates and prison employees have been questioned as authorities investigate whether prisoners received unauthorized privileges and whether payments were made in exchange for access to the facilities.