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.