Prison head sacked(Indon)

JAKARTA - THE head of a Jakarta prison was removed on Tuesday after revelations that some high- profile inmates have enjoyed lives of luxury behind bars.

The government also ordered an investigation into prison wardens across the country, as Justice and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar promised to punish officers found guilty of providing special privileges to prisoners.

'Many of the officers have worked at the same prisons for five years and even 10 years,' he said at a press conference on Tuesday. 'We have to move them to prevent them from building their own little kingdoms in prison.'

Pondok Bambu prison's director Sarju Wibowo was sacked following public outrage that he put rich inmates in luxurious rooms with LCD flat-screen TV sets, spring mattresses, air-conditioners, karaoke sets and more.

A presidential task force uncovered the scandal during a surprise inspection of the prison on Sunday. It found at least two inmates - businesswoman Artalyta Suryani, who is in for bribery, and drug offender Liem Marita - living in luxury.

Artalyta was sentenced to five years' jail and fined 250 million rupiah (S$37,890) for bribing a state prosecutor with US$660,000 (S$917,510). She was not in her cell during the inspection because she was having cosmetic treatment in a special room.

Click to expand...