Ombudsman Exposes 'Hotel' at Cibinong Prison: Big Corruption Inmates Allegedly Enjoy Luxury Facilities
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- Ombudsman RI menemukan rumah-rumah berfasilitas lengkap di dalam Lapas Kelas IIA Cibinong, diduga dihuni narapidana kasus korupsi besar.
- Lembaga pengawas itu mengantongi bukti foto dan video penghuni, serta menegaskan tidak akan mundur meski ada bantahan.
- Temuan ini membuka kembali persoalan diskriminasi pembinaan di lembaga pemasyarakatan dan memicu pertanyaan soal pengawasan internal.
The Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia has uncovered special treatment at the Class IIA Cibinong Penitentiary in Pondok Rajeg, Bogor Regency. During an unannounced inspection (sidak) on Wednesday (23/9), the team found several house-like structures standing inside the prison area, complete with furniture and household appliances. Surprisingly, the occupants of those units were inmates.
Ombudsman RI member Fikri Yasin said his office would trace exactly which inmates occupied the facility. He strongly suspects that inmates convicted in major corruption cases are among the occupants. "Based on the data we have, there are indeed big corruption inmates there," Fikri said at a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday (24/9).
Fikri stressed that the Ombudsman is not relying on assumptions alone. They claim to have visual documentation—photos and videos—recording the presence and identities of the occupants of the luxury houses. "We have strong evidence, not just photos but also videos. We have it all," he said. With that evidence, he said he was not worried if any party disputed the findings. "If anyone denies it, that is no problem for us," he added.
Echoing Fikri, fellow Ombudsman RI member Syafrida Rachmawati Rasahan also believes that influential inmates enjoyed the facilities. However, she was reluctant to name specific individuals. "Determining whether there are big inmates in that housing is an inseparable part of our investigation," Syafrida said.
This finding is not the first to tarnish the image of Indonesia's penitentiary institutions. Several prisons have previously been reported to have "hotel rooms" for certain inmates, especially those with economic and political access. Such practices raise serious questions about the consistency of rule enforcement and oversight behind prison walls.
During the inspection, the Ombudsman team initially stated that the purpose of the visit was outreach to inmates. Instead, they came across rows of houses with complete facilities. After checking inside, the team found sofas, refrigerators, televisions, dining tables, and even liquor inside a refrigerator. The occupants of the houses were later confirmed to be inmates.
"We have sufficiently strong evidence, not only photos but also videos, of who the occupants are. So if anyone denies it, that is no problem for us." — Fikri Yasin, Ombudsman RI member
Special treatment in prisons has the potential to undermine the correctional goal that emphasizes rehabilitation and equality. If certain inmates can obtain exclusive facilities, injustice arises for other occupants serving their sentences under minimal standards. This also risks reinforcing the perception that the law can be bought.
The Ombudsman is committed to completing this investigation. They will summon relevant parties, including the management of Cibinong Penitentiary, to seek clarification. Fikri stressed that his office will not flinch in the face of pressure or denials. "We will dig into who enjoyed those facilities and how this could happen," he said.
This case is a test for the Directorate General of Corrections at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights in enforcing the rules. The public is waiting to see whether there will be firm sanctions for violators, or whether this finding will simply evaporate like similar cases before. What is clear is that scrutiny of Cibinong Penitentiary has only just begun.
