Jakarta. Indonesia's corrections chief acknowledged Monday that two corruption convicts were found in an area containing apartment-like facilities near Cibinong Prison in Bogor, West Java, as authorities investigate allegations of preferential treatment for wealthy inmates.

Director General of Corrections Mashudi identified the two inmates as Ahmad Albani and Hasan Tjhie, both of whom are serving 10-year prison sentences in the PT Timah corruption case.

The two were encountered during a surprise inspection by the Indonesian Ombudsman on Sept. 23 in an area known as the prison's Assimilation and Education Facility, or SAE.

“Our team questioned two inmates, Ahmad Albani and Hasan Tjhie, who were found by the Ombudsman and at the time were in the SAE area,” Mashudi told a hearing with House of Representatives Commission XIII, which oversees corrections, human rights and immigration.

The Ombudsman said its inspection uncovered more than 10 houses near the prison, some containing amenities resembling those in an apartment, including sofas, televisions, refrigerators, dining tables and bedrooms.

The watchdog said its team encountered a person inside one of the houses who identified himself as an inmate, although prison officers prevented inspectors from questioning him further.

The discovery has raised suspicions that some inmates may have been receiving unauthorized privileges outside their regular prison cells. Authorities are investigating the use of the buildings and have yet to establish whether inmates were improperly allowed to live there or whether prison officials received payments in return for special treatment.

Mashudi said the investigation was continuing and declined to explain why Albani and Hasan were in the area when Ombudsman inspectors arrived.

“We will disclose it later. We cannot draw conclusions before the examination has clarified everything,” he told reporters, adding that the investigation was expected to produce further findings by Oct. 1.

55 Inmates Questioned
Corrections authorities have questioned 55 inmates as part of the investigation, including 21 inmates participating in assimilation activities, 33 prisoners convicted of corruption offenses and former police general Ferdy Sambo.

Sambo is serving a life sentence for the premeditated murder of his subordinate, Brigadier Nofriansyah Yosua Hutabarat.

Authorities have also questioned prison employees and officials as they investigate the Ombudsman's findings.

Assimilation in Indonesia's corrections system is a reintegration program under which eligible inmates participate in activities designed to help prepare them for their eventual return to society. At Cibinong Prison, the SAE area has officially been used for vocational and self-reliance programs, including agricultural and livestock activities.

Questions remain, however, over the residential buildings found in the area.

Corrections officials have said there are 16 buildings designated as official residences near the prison. Mashudi acknowledged that 13 of them have not been recorded in the government's state-asset management system, with their administrative status and use now under investigation.

Inmate's Framed Photograph Raises Questions
Another controversy centers on a framed photograph of corruption convict Jimmy Masrin that Ombudsman inspectors found inside one of the houses.

Masrin was convicted in a corruption case involving financing provided by Indonesia Eximbank (LPEI).

Mashudi said the photograph had previously been confiscated from Jimmy during a prison security inspection and was subsequently stored in a residence occupied by Cibinong Prison's head of security and order.

He maintained that the houses were intended as official residences for prison personnel rather than private accommodation for inmates.

Cibinong Prison Warden Wisnu Hani Putranto gave a similar explanation during Monday's hearing, prompting sharp criticism from several lawmakers.

Prosperous Justice Party lawmaker Yanuar Arif Wibowo questioned how Jimmy's framed photograph could have ended up inside an official residence and accused prison officials of giving an implausible account.

“Don't play games with the public. How could Jimmy Masrin's framed photograph end up in an official residence?” Yanuar said.

“Don't lie to cover up an earlier lie.”

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