Cibinong Prison: Ombudsman Finds Luxury Lodging, House to Summon All Parties

The Indonesian Ombudsman found indications of facility misuse at Cibinong Class IIA Prison in Bogor Regency, West Java. A man claiming to be an inmate was found occupying a fully furnished residence in an area that should have been staff housing. The finding triggered a chain of responses from the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections to the House of Representatives (DPR).

During an inspection on Wednesday (23/9), the Ombudsman team found a building described as resembling a mini villa or homestay. Inside were a sofa, television, dining table, and a refrigerator containing liquor. Ombudsman member Syafrida Rachmawati revealed that the occupant claimed to be an inmate and paid a sum of money to stay there. "He admitted he was an inmate, he paid, he spent money," she said, as quoted by detik.com.

The inspection itself did not go smoothly. The Ombudsman team said it was not given the freedom to examine the prison and was followed by more than ten people. Ombudsman member Fikri Yasin stated that his office had anticipated the possibility of the location being staged by preparing photo and video documentation. "If our journalist colleagues go there later and it is already clean, already flattened, sweet, that is fine too. We do not blame our journalist colleagues. Because it is actually simple, the items are gone within 24 hours. But we have that data," he said on Thursday (24/9).

Responding to the finding, Minister of Immigration and Corrections Agus Andrianto, along with Head of the Special Development Control and Investigation Agency (Bappisus) Aris Marsudiyanto, inspected the location directly on Friday (25/9). Agus stressed that he would investigate whether the staff house was truly used as intended or misused. "We will dig into whether this staff house is really used as a staff house, or used for other interests. This is our job, to conduct an investigation," he asserted. He also threatened to remove officials proven to be involved.

Aris Marsudiyanto gave a different explanation regarding the presence of inmates in the area. According to him, the place is indeed a residence for prison employees, and inmates who clean the houses are part of their rehabilitation. "This place is actually a residence for prison employees, and every inmate has a responsibility to clean the house as a form of rehabilitation," he said. Meanwhile, Head of the West Java Regional Office of the Directorate General of Corrections Yudi Suseno said the location in question was an assimilation area, or Assimilation and Education Facility (SAE), which contains several official residences.

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra stressed the importance of transparency to establish the facts. He questioned whether the facility was a staff house, an assimilation site, or indeed a luxury facility for certain inmates who could pay. Yusril affirmed he would take firm action if violations by officials or officers were found.

The DPR, through Commission XIII, said it would summon the Indonesian Ombudsman and Cibinong Prison in a hearing on Monday (28/9). Commission XIII Deputy Chair Sugiat Santoso said the summons was to confirm two differing explanations. He also regretted the prison's attitude in obstructing the Ombudsman's activities, while stressing that the Ombudsman has the authority to inspect public service institutions.

This case highlights governance problems in correctional institutions that remain prone to irregularities. If the alleged buying and selling of facilities is proven, the practice would not only violate regulations but also undermine the principle of equal rehabilitation for all inmates. The public will await the results of the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections' internal investigation and next week's DPR hearing. Will it be revealed who is responsible, or will this finding evaporate like a number of previous prison cases?