BOGOR — Authorities demolished a prison compound at Cibinong Prison in Bogor, near Jakarta, after an inspection revealed luxury accommodations for inmates. Five structural officials, including the Cibinong prison chief, have been suspended in connection with the apartment-style facilities.

Rudi Setiawan, inspector general of the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, announced the suspensions on Tuesday. "We have suspended five structural officials, including the Cibinong prison chief, who are suspected of being responsible for the incident uncovered by the Ombudsman," Setiawan said.

The disciplinary action followed a surprise inspection on 23 September by investigators from Indonesia’s Ombudsman. The team discovered residential units separate from regular prison cells within the facility grounds.

Syafrida Rachmawati Rasahan, an Ombudsman member, described the nature of the findings during a press conference. We encountered inmates inside the residential compound and discovered facilities resembling homestays, apartments and villas rather than prison housing, Rasahan said.

The residential units contained amenities including air conditioners, big-screen televisions, refrigerators, sofas, and dining areas. Investigators also reported finding a gym, a golf simulator under construction, and luxury vehicles in the complex.

We found strong indications that certain inmates had access to special facilities unavailable to ordinary prisoners, Rasahan said. The Ombudsman reported that one inmate admitted paying 150,000 rupiah per week to reside in one of the luxury units.

An inmate’s family reported paying 150,000 rupiah ($10.69) weekly to the prison block head for access to luxury accommodations, as confirmed by Indonesia’s Ombudsman during investigations. One inmate acknowledged paying to stay in the luxury residences, though investigators have yet to establish how much was paid or to whom.

The Ministry of Immigration and Corrections stated that the buildings at the luxury compound were constructed without permits and were not funded by the state budget (APBN). Ten buildings at Cibinong Class 2A prison were demolished on Sept 30 after authorities determined they were not state assets and had been built without permits along a riverbank where construction was prohibited.

Cibinong Prison had 16 unregistered buildings on its premises, with 13 of them not listed in the government’s state asset system (SIMAK BMN), according to Ministry of Immigration and Corrections data. Corrections director-general Mashudi acknowledged that 13 of 16 buildings in the compound were not registered in the government’s state asset system, and 10 of those were identified as outside the ministry’s assets and demolished.

Investigators are examining whether the buildings were converted into unauthorized accommodations for inmates. The buildings were originally intended as official housing for prison personnel. Inmates and prison employees have been questioned as part of the inquiry, including 52 inmates interviewed as part of the probe into the luxury compound at Cibinong Prison.

Cibinong Prison sits on 4 hectares (10 acres) and houses a mix of inmates, including convicted corruption offenders and other high-profile prisoners. The identities of inmates allegedly living in the compound have not been officially disclosed. Cibinong Prison’s inmate population reached 1,827 as of September 27, exceeding its official capacity of 845, according to Ministry of Immigration and Corrections data.

Why It Matters

The discovery of unregistered luxury units shows systemic issues within the prison infrastructure and management. With 13 of 16 buildings not listed in the state asset system, the case points to oversight gaps and the use of non-state funds for construction within correctional facilities.

Public pressure is mounting for transparency regarding which inmates benefited from these arrangements. The involvement of high-profile prisoners and corruption offenders in the facility adds weight to calls for a thorough investigation into potential bribery and abuse of authority by prison staff.

Timeline

An investigation into Indonesia’s prisons in 2010 found that some inmates live a life of luxury behind bars. Investigators from Indonesia’s Ombudsman discovered residential units separate from regular prison cells during a surprise inspection on 23 September. On the same day, investigators reported finding a gym, a golf simulator under construction, and luxury vehicles in the complex.

What's New

Later reporting confirmed that "We have suspended five structural officials, including the Cibinong prison chief, who are suspected of being responsible for the incident uncovered by the Ombudsman." During the current investigation, 52 inmates were interviewed as part of the probe into the luxury compound at Cibinong Prison.

"We encountered inmates inside the residential compound and discovered facilities resembling homestays, apartments and villas rather than prison housing." Lawmakers, anti-corruption activists, and watchdog groups have urged authorities to identify which prisoners occupied the facilities and whether prison officials accepted payments in exchange for the privileges. Lawmakers from the DPR have called for the identification of inmates who occupied the luxury facilities and for action against any prison officials involved in the alleged abuse of authority. Cibinong Prison has a history of corruption-related issues, including a 2018 scandal where inmates paid for upgraded cells with amenities like air-conditioning and televisions.