Penal island booming

CILACAP, Central Java: The island of Nusa Kambangan which is renowned as a penitentiary for hardened criminals, has become increasingly attractive for non-criminals.

The fertile land and shrimp farming has led to an economic boom and has seen the population almost double in the last year.

Cilacap regent Herry Tarbri said that the Ministry of Justice had set a limit on the number of residents the island could hold outside those in the correctional facility.

The limit was set at 280 families, or not more than 1,350 people, but the number of residents currently stands at 590 families or 3,150 people.

"We're discussing ways of removing the illegal residents living there," Tarbri said. (45)