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)