Indonesia Suspends Prison Officials Over Luxury Inmates’ Cells
Indonesian authorities are investigating allegations that inmates at Cibinong prison in Bogor, West Java, had access to luxurious accommodation and facilities, including air-conditioned rooms, a gym, and a golf simulator. The Ministry of Immigration and Corrections suspended five senior prison officials following a surprise inspection by the Indonesian Ombudsman on September 23, 2026.
Surprise Inspection Reveals Unauthorized Residential Cluster
The controversy emerged after an unannounced inspection on September 23, 2026, by the Indonesian Ombudsman at the Class 2A high-security facility in Bogor, West Java. Inspectors initially sought entry to the prison cell blocks but faced refusal despite presenting an official assignment letter, according to Ombudsman member Syafrida Rachmawati Rasahan.
After leaving the reception area, the inspection team investigated a fenced-off area approximately 100 meters away. Behind the prison chief’s official residence, they discovered a cluster of around 13 residential units separate from regular detention cells. According to reports from Tempo and The Jakarta Post, these buildings resembled homestays, terraced houses, and villas.
Inside the structures, investigators found apartment-style rooms outfitted with air-conditioning units, televisions, sofas, refrigerators containing bottles of alcohol, and dining tables. Nearby, the inspection revealed a gym, a golf simulator under construction, and parking areas housing luxury vehicles such as a Toyota Alphard and a Toyota Fortuner. Inspectors also discovered an unsecured route near a rubbish disposal area that allowed people and vehicles to enter or bypass the main entrance.
Inmates Encountered Inside Special Units
The Ombudsman team encountered multiple inmates inside the unauthorized residential units. When inspectors entered one house, an occupant recognized them as the Ombudsman team and immediately ran into a bedroom. Another well-known corruption convict locked a room door from the inside, where investigators subsequently found his photograph on a table nearby.
Ombudsman member Fikri Yasin noted the clear classification system operating within the compound. “There was one house occupied by just one person, while another house had four people inside. That means there was indeed some form of classification there,” Fikri stated during a press briefing.
Occupants and visitors acknowledged that money changed hands for access to these amenities. Syafrida stated that based on interviews with those occupying the houses, payments were made to secure the rooms, commercializing spaces that prison officers initially described to inspectors as assimilation houses intended for prisoner reintegration programs. The Jakarta Post reported that one inmate allegedly paid 160,000 rupiah (US$8.90) a week, while another visitor reported that her husband was asked by his room head to pay 150,000 rupiah weekly.
Suspensions and Ongoing Official Investigations
The Ministry of Immigration and Corrections responded swiftly to the findings of the independent state watchdog. On September 26, 2026, Inspector-General Commissioner General Rudi Setiawan announced the suspension of five structural officials.
“We have suspended five structural officials who are suspected of being responsible for the incident uncovered by the Ombudsman,” Rudi told reporters. The suspended personnel include the prison warden, the head of prison security, the head of the guidance and education section, the head of the security and order section, and the head of general affairs. Authorities confirmed that the residential units were originally designated as residences for prison officers.
As of September 26, 2026, investigators had questioned 52 inmates, with formal inspections and questioning scheduled for 54 Cibinong prison staff members. The Inspectorate General seized evidence from the scene, including the inmate’s photograph, and continues to examine the financial transactions, the duration of the unauthorized construction, and the full extent of institutional irregularities at the West Java facility.