Money makes the world go round behind bars

By Imanuddin

JAKARTA (JP): Who says life is hard in a correctional facility? For people with cash to splash or any other clout, life in jail can apparently be pleasant.

During a recent unannounced visit to the Cipinang penitentiary in East Jakarta, Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman was surprised to find that businessman Eddy Tansil, who is serving a 20-year term for corruption, has a color TV set and a fan inside his cell, items considered luxuries even for the average Indonesian.

The finding did not outrage only Oetojo. Several members of the House of Representatives suggested that Eddy should be sent to the high security prison island of Nusa Kambangan off the southern coast of Central Java.

Eddy's case highlights what four former inmates say is normal practice in Indonesian prisons, and has the potential of inciting trouble and riots in jails.

This envy of fellow inmates' privileges, they said in separate interviews, was what caused the riot in the Tanjung Gusta prison in Medan, North Sumatra, last month which left six inmates dead, all having been burnt alive.

Before Tanjung Gusta, other notorious riots occurred in Becora in East Timor, the Tanggerang correctional facility just outside Jakarta and in Cipinang.

According to official accounts, the Tanjung Gusta incident started when six prisoners, reputedly the most notorious in the correctional facility, attacked fellow inmates for no apparent reason.

This incited an immediate backlash. Hundreds of other inmates assaulted the six men, threw them into a cell, stuffed mattresses and pillows inside, and set the cell on fire before locking it.

The six men, either because of their notoriety or because of their wealth, had been receiving special privileges from the prison guards, including TV sets in their cells, cooking utensils and permission to walk around the prison grounds.

Ironically the incident occurred barely a month after the House of Representatives enacted a new law on correctional facilities, designed to make the system more effective in reforming inmates and enhancing the career of prison guards and wardens.

While officials and experts argue for a better method of reforming and rebuilding the character of inmates to prevent reoffending, the four former convicts interviewed by The Jakarta Post argue for an immediate end to the discriminatory practices which they say are rampant in Indonesian jails.

"The riot in the Medan prison was sparked by jealousy between the inmates," Anton Medan, who has served time for murder, says. "Discriminatory treatment by prison guards and wardens is the main cause," he adds.

Money talks loudly in correctional facilities, he says. "An inmate could be put on parole or take part in an assimilation program if he gives prison wardens or guards sufficient money."

Another inmate, who preferred to remain anonymous, points to the length of visiting hours prisoners are allowed as another example of discriminatory practices. "Visitors who pay more will be given longer time to talk with the inmates," he says.

Iwan Cepy, who spent time in Cipinang for murder, says there is stiff competition among inmates to be appointed the foreman by the wardens because such an appointment entails privileges.

A foreman, the highest status that an inmate can attain in a prison, has the authority to collect and manage funds, or deposits in correctional parlance, from fellow inmates.

A foreman has more freedom to move around inside the prison, adds Iwan, who admits that he reached such status when he was serving time. "They didn't even lock my cell," he said.

Syahrial, another former inmate who was convicted for robbery, concurred that the existence of discriminatory practices inside jails is not a baseless rumor as some officials have tried to maintain.

The former convicts interviewed all believe that the practice of trading privileges in return for money inside correctional facilities has been made possible because of prison guards and wardens' low salaries, especially given the poor image in the eyes of the public.

Judging from their concern, the four appeared to have greater understanding of the problems of prison officials than the public does.

"How can we expect total commitment from a prison official if he is not well paid?" Iwan asks.

Anton says most people have no idea about the profession. "They have a very tough life because they have to supervise hundreds of inmates, for only a meager salary,"

Syahrial believes that discriminatory practices will remain as long as the guards' welfare is not improved.

Under the current situation, prison guards and inmates, at least the wealthy ones, have become mutually dependent, he says. "Inmates need the privileges, the guards need the money."

"Money is the most important thing in determining what kind of treatment you get in prison," says the anonymous ex-convict.

He admits that he also bought early freedom. "I left Cipinang one month before the scheduled time," he says.

Anton says that the religious sermons held in correctional facilities intended as part of an inmate's character reformation should also be given to the prison guards.

"The prison officials have never been given religious sermons to build their own personality. How can we expect them to talk about religion and good things?" he asks.

Anton also says the religious sermons held in the correctional facilities were mostly conducted by young and freshly graduated preachers, and inmates cannot but help feeling that they are being treated as guinea pigs.

The anonymous convict also questions the effectiveness of the correctional facility in reforming an inmate's character because when they return to society, they usually find people discriminate against them because of their status.

He recalled that on the day he was released he approached a prison guard and asked him to fix him up with a job as had been promised earlier.

The guard, he says, responded: "What do you expect from me? Out there, many engineers are out of work. What chance do you have?"

The correctional facility, he says, has become a training ground for some inmates to learn more advanced criminal skills and tactics. "An inmate convicted for stealing a hen, will try to steal an airplane once released," he says, only half jesting.