Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Rukman, a former construction worker from Pondok Cabe, just south of Jakarta, cried out when Tangerang prison authorities recently turned down his request for a three-day leave to see his dead mother in Palembang, South Sumatra. He is serving a 20-year jail sentence for killing a four-member family in 1995.

Rukman's family could do nothing to help him. They had no money. Nor did they have access to public officials, who could obtain notes to get approval from the prison's warden to take him to see his mother's body for the last time.

The case of the former head of Jakarta's transportation agency, Rustam Effendi, presents a stark contrast. Rustam has been in Cipinang Prison for corruption charges related to Jakarta's multi-billion rupiah busway project. He was recently allowed to leave Cipinang to attend his daughter's wedding party.

Lawmakers questioned Justice and Human Rights Minister Hamid Awaluddin on Monday on the latest example of preferential treatment given to a high ranking official, this time the treatment of former National Police top detective Com. Gen. Suyitno Landung.

Instead of sending him to Cipinang Penitentiary, National Police chief Gen. Sutanto sent him to a police detention center in Kelapa Dua, Depok, citing fears for Suyitno's "safety".

Lawmakers from the House of Representatives Commission III also queried the increasing number of inmate suicides.

House Commission chairman Trimedya Panjaitan asked the government to enhance security at prisons, saying the increased levels of suicide and physical abuse had a lot to do with prisons being overcrowded.

"This has contributed to an increase in suicide, drugs, physical abuse and the poor health condition of inmates. Most prisoners are facing malnutrition because the number of inmates is increasing while the prisons' budget is constant," he said.

Hamid denied giving special treatment to Suyitno, saying the transfer was caused by the fact that the prison at Cipinang was already overcrowded "Overcapacity at Salemba Prison has reached 350 percent while that at Cipinang Prison has reached 250 percent," he said.

He also said increasing suicides in prisons had something to do with inmates' psychological condition rather than issues of security. "The psychological condition is quite fragile for inmates serving a lengthy jail term and for those whose cases are being tried," he said.