Scholar demands equal treatment for inmates

Scholar demands equal treatment for inmates

JAKARTA (JP): The recent findings by Minister of Justice
Oetojo Oesman of discriminative treatment of inmates at the
Cipinang penitentiary has strengthened earlier reports of
irregularities inside the correctional institution.

Oetojo found on a recent impromptu visit to the penitentiary
in East Jakarta that businessman Eddy Tansil received
preferential treatment. He found a color TV set and a fan in the
cell of the former Golden Key Group boss, who is serving a 20-
year jail term.

Eddy was convicted of siphoning off Rp 1.3 trillion (US$620
million) in loans from state-owned Bapindo bank between 1989 and
1994.

Legal observer of the Hasanuddin University in Ujungpandang,
South Sulawesi, Andi Muis, said the minister's finding shows that
prison officials discriminate against inmates.

"I guess there was collusion between Eddy and the Cipinang
prison officials that enabled Eddy to get such facilities," Andi
told The Jakarta Post in a telephone interview yesterday.

He, however, insisted that the finding should be followed by
legal action, including investigation and prosecution against the
guilty parties.

"If the alleged collusion is proven to be true, the guilty
officials should be punished, administratively and lawfully,
while Eddy could be charged with criminal charges," he said.

Meanwhile, head of the Cipinang penitentiary Mintardjo denied
there was any preferential treatment of Eddy Tansil by prison
officials.

"It is true that we put inmates in groups. But we treat all
inmates equally," he said.

He cited an example of how political prisoners are housed
separately from other inmates. He mentioned H.R. Dharsono,
Soebandrio and Omar Dhani, who were kept in separate cells during
their prison terms at Cipinang.

"We cannot put Eddy Tansil with hardened criminals like
thieves or murderers. It would be too dangerous for him," he
explained.

He also said it was not him who put Eddy in a separate cell.

"Eddy was already in a separate cell when I was appointed
chief of the penitentiary in August 1995," he said.

Andi, however, said that Eddy having a private cell was not
acceptable.

"Eddy has to be put in a cell with other inmates," he said.

"The prison regulation stipulates that a prison cell has to be
shared, doesn't it?" he asked.

He said Dharsono, Soebandrio and Omar Dhani were given special
rooms because of their ages.

"All of them were put with other inmates when they were
younger," he said.

Oetojo's visit to the penitentiary at midnight caught the
institution's officials, including its director Mintardjo, off
guard. The minister was accompanied only by his driver.

Oetojo immediately asked Mintardjo to remove the TV set and
fan from Eddy's cell.

He pointed out that the practice of giving special treatment
to certain inmates could give rise to jealousy among other
inmates.

Mintardjo, however, said there had been no jealousy among the
inmates, saying that Eddy has contributed a lot to the renovation
of the penitentiary's mosque, church, and other inmates' rooms.
(imn)