Ambon – As many as 37 prisoners in a subversion case of the separatist South Maluku Republic (RMS) were moved from Ambon penitentiary to several jails in Java island Tuesday.

Chief of the Maluku Police Anti-Terror Detachment Adj. Snr. Comr. Imam Raharjanto said the decision to move the prisoners was made in preparation for an expected hostile situation when Ambon celebrates the RMS anniversary on April. 25.

"We used a Hercules plane to fly them to jails in Central Java and East Java. The plane was earlier used to fly mobile brigade officers here from Jakarta." Raharjanto said. Separately, Ambon penitentiary head Johanes Tangkudung denied that the transfer of the prisoners was connected with the RMS anniversary. "For a high-profile case like this one, it's better that the supervision is handed over to the bigger penitentiaries in Java."