Ba'asyir to get air-con, comfy cell

Evi Mariani and Abdul Khalik, Jakarta

Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, who is currently being detained at National Police Headquarters, will be moved to a freshly renovated, air-conditioned cell at Jakarta Police Headquarters.

"We will move Ba'asyir some time this week," National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Paiman said on Thursday. "We want to provide a better place for him as a senior citizen."

City police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo substantiated Paiman's statement, saying the city police were ready to receive Ba'asyir as a detainee.

"We will treat him just the same as the other prisoners. There will be no special treatment. But we will give him a private cell," he said.

Sources at the city police said that Ba'asyir and other suspects related to terrorism would be detained at a separate location from "common" criminals.

Ba'asyir was detained minutes after his release from prison after serving time for document forgery and immigration violations. He is now charged with involvement in terrorist activities.

Last week, the police moved their detective reserves unit from the building behind the existing prison to another location.

The old location, which stands on 100 square meters of land, is being converted into a detention center for Ba'asyir.

On Thursday, while workers were still busy at the site, construction of the new detention center was near completion.

The new center comprises a living room, a dining room and a study with two computer desks, as well as five large bedrooms -- including one main bedroom with an en suite. The smallest room measures 12 square meters. All bedrooms are furnished with air conditioners and new spring beds.

The windows of the building are covered with iron bars and the glass painted white. A four-meter-high wire fence surrounds the building.