Southeast Sulawesi Corrections Office Finds Two Mobile Phones During Kendari Prison Raid

Kendari (ANTARA) - The Regional Office of the Directorate General of Corrections (Ditjenpas) for Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra) discovered two mobile phones during a raid on inmates’ rooms at the Class IIA Kendari Prison. Head of the Southeast Sulawesi Ditjenpas Regional Office, Sulardi, stated on Monday that officers found the illegal phones hidden in the crevices of a wooden wardrobe in an inmate’s living quarters. “This discovery shows that efforts to smuggle and store prohibited items remain a challenge we must face together. Therefore, we will continue to enhance supervision and inspections to ensure there is no room for illegal mobile phones inside the prison,” Sulardi said. He added that as a follow-up, the inspection team is currently conducting an investigation to objectively and transparently identify the owner of the devices and trace how the contraband entered the prison environment. Sulardi stressed that his office will not tolerate any integrity violations. If the investigation reveals the involvement of officers or prison staff, severe sanctions will be imposed in accordance with employee disciplinary regulations. “If any staff involvement is found in the circulation or entry of prohibited items into the prison, the individual will be processed and dealt with firmly according to legal provisions,” he stated. He also noted that the room inspections and searches are part of early detection of security disturbances and the implementation of the programme to eradicate mobile phones, illegal levies, and narcotics (Halinar). Meanwhile, Head of the Class IIA Kendari Prison, Mukhtar, said the findings serve as important evaluation material for his team to tighten the security system across all residential blocks. “We are committed to tightening inspections of all items carried and individuals entering and leaving the prison environment to prevent the recurrence of contraband smuggling and to maintain a conducive security and order situation,” he said.