Bogor jail in bad condition

BOGOR: Overcrowding at Paledang jail in Bogor has become such a problem that the mayor has promised to address the situation.

A total of 68 detainees must share one room that was designed to hold no more than 27 people. The room, the only one available for detainees, is even more crowded because most detainees bring with them a cardboard box to hold their clothes and other personal belongings.

At night, the detainees sleep on mats or mattresses laid out on the floor of the room, which is cold and night and humid during the day. Areas of the floor are wet from the toilets in each corner of the room.

Bogor Mayor, HR Iswara Natanegara, said he would discuss plans to renovate the building with the local administrations in Bogor and Depok, and the Cibinong District Court.

The penitentiary holds detainees Bogor and Depok.

Iswara also suggested that the status of the jail be changed to a detention center. -- JP