Indonesia demolishes luxury compound inside Cibinong Prison following watchdog inspection

Demolition of the compound

Indonesian authorities deployed demolition crews on Wednesday to dismantle a luxury residential compound built inside Cibinong Prison in Bogor, south of Jakarta. Workers removed appliances and furniture from the site, hauling away large flat-screen televisions, air conditioning units, gym equipment, sofas, refrigerators, and large beds. Several structures within the compound were demolished using mechanical excavators following the government directive. The four-hectare facility holds more than 1,800 inmates, operating far above its intended capacity as one of the most crowded prisons on Java Island. Deputy commission chairman of the government Ombudsman office, Sugiat Santoso, stated that the structures required immediate demolition to prevent further misuse.

Findings from the surprise inspection

The teardown followed an unannounced inspection conducted by the Indonesian Ombudsman office and accompanied journalists on 23 September. Watchdog officials identified a fenced-off zone behind the prison chief's private residence enclosed by a wooden perimeter. Prison guards initially attempted to prevent inspectors from entering the area before the team gained access. Inside the enclosure, investigators discovered at least 10 standalone residential units fitted with dining tables, sofas, and full household furnishings. Photos released by investigators showed refrigerators stocked with beer, whisky, and other alcoholic beverages. The compound also featured a dedicated parking area containing expensive vehicles, including a Toyota Alphard and a Toyota Fortuner, alongside an existing swimming pool, a private gym, and an unfinished golf simulator.

Unrestricted movement and VIP accommodations

Inspectors established that inmates paid rent to occupy the luxury units rather than residing in standard cells. At least one inmate admitted to living inside the compound during an interview with the watchdog team. The inspection team also discovered an unlocked rear gate connecting the villa courtyard to an adjoining bamboo forest and garbage dump, allowing occupants to exit and enter the penitentiary without passing through official security checkpoints. Cibinong Prison houses a combination of violent offenders and white-collar inmates convicted of corruption offenses. Syafrida Rachmawati Rasahan, an Ombudsman official, evaluated the systemic risk during a legislative hearing on Tuesday.

This is the tip of the iceberg that will indeed be greater in the future if it is not corrected systemically.

Official suspensions and legislative review

In response to the inspection, the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections suspended five senior penitentiary staff members, including the prison chief. Rudi Setiawan, the inspector general of the ministry, announced the suspensions on Saturday and confirmed that investigators have questioned dozens of inmates and staff members to determine whether bribes were paid. Setiawan stated that the funds used to construct the private accommodations did not originate from the state budget and carried no official building permits. At a legislative hearing on Monday, the director general of corrections reported that an internal inquiry identified 13 unregistered employee residences across the grounds. The corrections department scheduled a preliminary report for presentation to parliament next week.