Inmates get 'bugged' public phones at Cipinang prison

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Cipinang Penitentiary has installed public telephones for prisoners to provide them with telecommunication means as it intensifies its confiscation of the cell phones widely used by inmates.

In a speech marking the launching of the phone service Thursday, penitentiary chief Wibowo Joko Harjono said prisoners could use the telephones, which were operated by state-owned telecommunication provider PT Telkom Indonesia, for a charge similar to the usual public rate.

"There are ten units available," he said. "All telephone conversations are recorded to prevent convicts from using them for illegal purposes, such as narcotics transactions."

The penitentiary came under fire late last year after senior actor Roy Marten was arrested by the Surabaya Police for suspected drug use and trafficking. He had previously served a nine-month prison term in 2006 for drug use.

Critics said Roy turned himself from a user into a distributor after his experience at Cipinang Penitentiary. Many fear that correctional institutions across the country are centers of narcotics distribution because convicts are able to use cell phones to build and maintain strong connections with narcotics rings.

National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Sisno Adiwinoto said recently it was easier to obtain drugs in penitentiaries than any other place.

"It takes only five minutes to obtain drugs inside penitentiaries, while it may take five to seven hours to get them outside," he was quoted as saying by detik.com.

Directorate General for Penitentiaries of the Justice and Human Rights Ministry, Untung Sugiyono, told the same news agency that while cell phones were not allowed in prison, prisoners had been using them secretively.

"We realize that prisoners need telephones to communicate with their families or friends, but misuse of cell phones is our greatest concern," he said.

Head of Jakarta's Justice Ministry office Didin Sudirman said surveillance in penitentiaries was weak because of the lack of officers and overcrowding in correctional facilities.

"The country's jails and penitentiaries have a total capacity of 4,080 persons and are currently occupied by some 10,000 prisoners. With 692 guards working in shifts, we calculate that one officer is responsible for 62 inmates," he said.

Untung said the ministry had been planning to renovate and expand all penitentiaries and jails in Jakarta to add more room for the growing number of prisoners while also gradually employing more guards. (lln)