DPR Commission III Urges Thorough Investigation into Luxury Facilities at Cibinong Prison

The Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR), Ahmad Sahroni, has urged law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate the existence of luxury facilities at the Class IIA Cibinong Correctional Institution in West Java, following findings by the Indonesian Ombudsman.

In a statement received in Jakarta on Friday, Sahroni requested that relevant parties do not cover up these findings. He emphasised that if criminal elements are discovered during the investigation, those responsible must be prosecuted immediately.

“If criminal elements are found, the individuals involved must be removed and investigated immediately. Everything must be brought to light. We must not allow the public to speculate that the law is harsh in public but weak behind the scenes,” he said.

The legislator, who focuses on law enforcement, asserted that prisons should serve as places for rehabilitation and as a means to provide a deterrent effect for convicts.

“We must not allow the law enforcement efforts carried out by our partners to end up like this. Prisons should be spaces for rehabilitation and to provide a deterrent effect for prisoners,” he added.

Previously, the Ombudsman discovered several apartment-standard facilities within the Class IIA Cibinong Correctional Institution area in Bogor Regency, West Java, on Wednesday (23/9).

Ombudsman RI member Fikri Yasin explained in Cibinong that these facilities are located at the rear of the prison and are separated from the general inmate residential blocks.

“It is very good—too good. Apartment standards. This means that although the spaces are small, they are fully equipped with all necessary household appliances,” he said.

The Ombudsman is currently conducting an investigation to identify the occupants of these facilities and to determine when the residential units were constructed.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Correctional Services, Mashudi, stated that his department has dispatched a team to the site to conduct inspections.

“The team began their work yesterday (Wednesday, 23/9) afternoon. Yesterday afternoon, all checks regarding the findings reported by the Ombudsman were carried out,” he said when contacted on Thursday (24/9).