Nivell Rayda – A new prison wing built for some of Indonesia's most despised criminals – people convicted of corruption – will be officially opened by Justice and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar today.
Built as part of Cipinang Penitentiary in East Jakarta, the wing, comprising 64 cells, will house up to 256 convicted corrupters and graft suspects.
The first of its kind to be built, the idea for the penitentiary came about after it was revealed publicly that high-profile convicts had been enjoying lives of comparative luxury behind bars.
Purwo Ardoko, the facility's chief architect, said the new prison was divided into two sections. "On the first floor, there are sixteen cells dedicated to sick and elderly prisoners. The four by six [meter] cells are designed to hold one prisoner," Purwo said.
The architect added that the remainder of the prisoners would share cells measuring seven-by-five square meters, each with a maximum capacity of five prisoners. The facilities, however, are a cut above what inmates convicted of other crimes can expect to be jailed in.
There are already 10 inmates at the new facility, including former Health Minister Achmad Sujudi and former National Mandate Party lawmaker Abdul Hadi Djamal.
Businessman Anggodo Widjojo, the man accused of colluding to fabricate the charges against Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy commissioners Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra Hamzah, is also being housed in the facility.
The ministry plans to transfer all prisoners jailed for corruption to the facility, including former Bank Indonesia governor, Aulia Pohan. Aulia is the father in-law of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's eldest son.
Early this year, the presidentially appointed Judicial Mafia Eradication Task Force made a surprise inspection of the Pondok Bambu Women's Penitentiary and discovered that graft convicts like Artalyta Suryani were living lavishly inside her cell. Among the special privileges enjoyed included wall to wall carpeting, air conditioners and LCD televisions.
The ministry was highly criticized after the inspection and was forced to make establishing a separate prison facility for corrupt officials its top priority. The provision of luxuries to prisoners, however, is nothing new.
Purwo told Detik.com that the prison was also equipped with a common room for recreational activities, including table tennis.
Inmates, who would be supplied with a mattress, would also bring certain items, such as fans, into the prison, "but they won't be allowed to change the building structure for example, changing the tiles with marble floor," he told the news portal.
