Terrorists to serve time on Nusakambangan
Terrorists to serve time on Nusakambangan
Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Purwokerto, Central Java
Convicted terrorists will serve their prison terms at a special
prison being built on Nusakambangan island in Cilacap regency,
Central Java, police said here on Tuesday.
"The special prison is under construction and is expected to
be finished this year," Central Java Police Insp. Gen. Didi
Widayadi said in Purwokerto regency.
He said the plan to send all convicted terrorists to
Nusakambangan, Indonesia's "Alcatraz" prison, was discussed
during a coordinating meeting between police and judges in
Central Java.
Didi said that Imam Samudra, Amrozi and Ali Gufron -- who all
are all likely to face the death sentence over their alleged key
role in the devastating blasts in Bali on Oct. 12, 2002 -- would
be sent to Nusakambangan if convicted. Amrozi has already been
convicted and sentenced to death.
Big-time corrupters, including president Soeharto's youngest
son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra and Soeharto crony Muhammad
"Bob" Hasan were sent to the island prison a few years ago to
serve their prison terms.
Didi said that two additional prisons would also be built in
Nusakambangan -- one for convicted drug dealers and another for
other criminals.
The prison for terrorists and the two others will bring the
number of prisons on Nusakambangan to seven, he added.
The existing four prisons there accommodate around 700 big-
time prisoners, including Tommy and Bob Hasan.
Didi said it would be impossible to place common prisoners
alongside convicted terrorists. "That's why we need to build a
special prison for them," he added.
Separately, Central Java justice and human rights office head
Marsono said the special prison would accommodate at least 100
prisoners and would be a "maximum security" prison with walls to
made of concrete blocks and steel.
It will be equipped with sophisticated equipment such as
surveillance cameras, he added.
Marsono said the prison had been designed like America's
Alcatraz.