Directorate General of Corrections Affirms Zero Mobile Phones and Drugs in Prisons, Promises Strict Action

The Directorate General of Corrections (Dirjenpas) of the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections (Kemenimipas) has reaffirmed its commitment to prohibiting the circulation of banned items such as mobile phones and narcotics in Prisons (Lapas) and Detention Centres (Rutan). This commitment was strengthened through a simultaneous pledge participated in by 627 correctional work units across Indonesia. “Today we have carried out the pledge, followed by 627 work units throughout Indonesia. That in the blocks, there will be no more mobile phones, drug circulation, and no more extortion,” said the Director General of Corrections, Mashudi, at the Dirjenpas office in Jakarta on Thursday (7/5/2026). Mashudi emphasised that he would not hesitate to take firm action against rogue officers who play around with the rules. He stated that he had dismissed officials in two locations for allowing violations to occur. “Like it or not, we have to dismiss them. If the President says, ‘just send them home’. It’s a pity for our 49,686 employees; don’t let a handful of people tarnish the reputation of all,” he asserted. One strong reason for banning mobile phones in prisons is the prevalence of scams carried out by inmates. Mashudi revealed the discovery of 150 mobile phones in one location containing data of scam victims. “The impact of mobile phone games inside, the victims are definitely women. There are quite a few victims, nearly 100 housewives. From the many phones, they all contain pictures of housewives,” said Mashudi. “The modus operandi uses handsome faces (to deceive). If this is allowed to continue, the victims will keep increasing,” he continued. As a solution to inmates’ communication needs, Mashudi instructed every Lapas and Rutan to increase the number of Special Telecommunication Kiosks or Wartelsus. “Please prepare as many Wartelsus as possible, whether 100 or 200 units, as long as they follow SOP. They can record, the place is comfortable, prices are cheap, and we can evaluate as operators. The important thing is zero mobile phones in the blocks,” he explained. Spotlighting Rogue Violations Mashudi revealed that based on analysis and evaluation results for the first quarter of 2026, there were 27 employee disciplinary violations recorded. He regretted that 50 percent of them were serious category violations, including involvement in drug cases. “Certainly for the first quarter, there are 27 violations, nearly 50 percent serious, meaning one of them is the drug issue,” he disclosed. Not only service-related issues, Mashudi also highlighted employees’ lifestyles, from online gambling addiction to poor financial management. He even instructed directors to check pay slips to monitor their financial health. “Many are involved in online gambling. I asked to check this month’s pay slips, how many are in the red? If borrowing from the bank to buy a house, I approve. But if borrowing from the bank just for lifestyle or gambling, that’s what messes things up,” he added. To strengthen supervision, Mashudi stated that Dirjenpas will routinely conduct raids and urine tests in prisons and detention centres twice a month. “And we do raids together, we conduct raids plus urine checks for inmates with indications as well as employees with indications,” Mashudi asserted. “We will check urine twice a month; we order that in the first week they send the data to us here,” he concluded.