Cipinang to reduce sentences

JAKARTA: As many as 155 inmates at Cipinang Penitentiary in East Jakarta will likely have their prison terms reduced again on Aug. 17, the country's Independence Day.

The penitentiary officer Giharto, who oversees the inmates' welfare, said that the 155 inmates are among 1,145 names proposed to the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights to receive a sentence reduction due to good conduct.

"Independence Day means something special for the inmates. Many of them dream of having been released precisely on the very day," Giharto was quoted as saying by Antara news agency on Wednesday.

Indonesia declared itself an independent country on Aug. 17, 1945.

Giharto said that last year, 1,243 inmates got their sentences reduced, including 136 who were freed that day.

Currently, Cipinang Penitentiary has 1,949 prisoners.

The adjacent Narcotics Prison also proposed reductions for 503 of the 700 inmates.

The Women's Penitentiary in Pondok Bambu, also in East Jakarta, also requested sentence reductions for 217 inmates. "Usually all the names on the list get approved," said chief warden S. Prihantara. -- Antara