Jayapura prison chief dismissed and arrested

Jayapura prison chief dismissed and arrested

R.K. Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura

Local police arrested Demianus Rumbiak soon after he was
dismissed as the head of the Jayapura Penitentiary for allegedly
abusing his power.

"Rumbiak was taken from his residence on Jl. Angkasa in the
city on Thursday and placed in police custody for further
investigation," First Insp. Helmy Kuarta of the Jayapura Police's
detective unit, said here on Friday.

Separately, Adj. Sr. Comr. Totok Kasmiarto, chief of the
police precinct, said the suspect was arrested for alleged abuses
of power during his term of office.

"For the latest case, the suspect released an inmate who was
still serving his jail term without the official procedure.
According to Article 419 of the Criminal Code, the suspect can be
jailed for four years," he said.

Rumbiak, questioned in his cell, denied his dismissal, saying
he was demoted and moved to East Nusa Tenggara.

"I will leave for East Nusa Tenggara after undergoing the
police investigation," he said.

He denied the allegation that he had frequently abused his
power during his tenure. He said he was ready to explain to the
police that he was guilty.

The police had previously lodged a protest with the local
justice and human rights office after they found an inmate
identified as Simsal Basir, free outside the prison.

The court sentenced Basir to ten years jail last December
after he was found guilty of trafficking banned drugs in the
city.