One inmate killed, three injured in prison brawl

Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Justice and Human Rights Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra paid an impromptu visit to Cipinang penitentiary, East Jakarta, at about 9 p.m. on Tuesday night, several hours after it was the scene of a fresh brawl between two rival groups.

Yusril, however, refused to speak to the press.

One inmate was killed and three others were injured in the brawl. The fatality was identified as 40-year-old Timbul Tampubolon who died of severe wounds caused by a sharp weapon. Three other inmates, who were injured, were rushed to Kramatjati Police Hospital.

East Jakarta Police detective chief Comr. Putu Jayen confirmed the incident and said that police still could not figure out the reasons behind the brawl but suspected that the fighting was caused by ethnic divisions.

"This is fighting between groups inside the prison such as Arek (inmates coming from East Java), Ambon (from Maluku), Korea (from North Sumatra) and Manado (from North Sulawesi).

"We are still looking into what triggered the riot. At the moment we are concentrating on calming the prisoners and taking control," Putu told The Jakarta Post.

Around 300 police personnel were deployed to secure the situation inside and outside the penitentiary, Putu said.

"We are backed up by personnel from Jakarta Police and nearby police subprecincts," he added.

Nearby residents heard a series of warning shots fired by police to disperse the brawling inmates.

Scuffles between inmates have sparked riots and caused fatalities on frequent occasions at Cipinang Penitentiary -- Jakarta's largest prison -- despite regular weapon searches by police and prison wardens.

The latest incident happened last month, leaving six inmates injured. The brawl was reported to have involved two rival groups from North Sumatra and East Java.

In August, three inmates were injured in a brawl between the two rival groups, two days after police conducted an intensive cell-to-cell search for weapons and dangerous objects inside the state penitentiary.

The brawls, which involve sharp weapons, have proved that weapon searches by police and wardens have not actually been effective as inmates still have access to weapons. (emf)