One man to run prison

One man to run prison

MANATUTO, East Timor: The local administration is so eager to
lock up criminals that it opened a prison Wednesday that has only
one employee.

The Rp 900 million (US$380,000) prison, designed to hold 50
people, on a four hectare site was opened by local justice
ministry chief Gunawan, Antara reported.

"We hope that by April 1998, we will have three employees,"
Gunawan said at the opening attended by Manatuto regent Cesar
Caldas Sarmento and local military chief Lt. Col. Daud Napi.

The lone employee, Fatkhuludin Alie, is supposed to manage 20
detainees, administration, (now unoccupied) employee's housing, a
chapel, mosque, clinic, training office and parking lot.

"He will be in charge of day-to-day affairs," Gunawan said.
"The detention house will save money and time, and facilitate law
enforcement in the area."

People convicted by Manatuto district court are usually sent
to Becora prison in the provincial capital, Dili. (pan)