HP In Popok Fails To Be Smuggled Into Ambon Detention Center

Ambon detention center officers secured cell phone smuggling to inmates (ANTARA/Dedy Azis)

JAKARTA - The Class IIA Ambon State Detention Center managed to thwart an attempt to smuggle cellphones or cellphones (HP) into the inmates' residential blocks through the mode of hiding in small children's diapers during face-to-face visits services.

"Our officers suspect that there was a hard object during the examination of the child. After opening it, it turned out that a cell phone was found hidden in a diapers," said Head of the Ambon Ferdika Canra Detention Center in Ambon, Wednesday, July 30, which was confiscated by Antara.

He explained that the incident began when a visitor came with his son to make a visit. According to the procedure, officers conducted a body search, including the child who was brought in.

The discovery was made by the Megawati search officer, who was suspicious because there was an unnatural bulge in the diapers area. The evidence was then immediately secured and visitors were prohibited from continuing their visits.

The prohibition of bringing and using cellphones into prisons (prisons) or State Detention Centers is an important part in maintaining security and order in prisons.

Legally, this prohibition refers to Law Number 12 of 1995 concerning Corrections which does not include the right of prisoners to ownership of personal communication tools. This rule was later confirmed in Regulation of the Minister of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia Number 29 of 2017 concerning Order of Prisons and Detention Centers, which explicitly prohibits prisoners and detainees from owning, carrying, or using communication tools such as cellphones without the permission of the authorities.

This prohibition is enforced to prevent illegal practices such as regulation of criminal acts from inside detention cells, drug trafficking, or other illicit activities that take advantage of access to free communication.

In addition, restrictions on communication tools are also in line with Government Regulation Number 58 of 1999 which regulates the communication rights of prisoners on a limited and supervised basis.

Therefore, any attempt to smuggle cellphones, both by inmates and visitors, is seen as a serious violation that can be subject to disciplinary sanctions and legal follow-up.

In this regard, the investigation process against visitors and inmates suspected of being recipients of cellphones is now being carried out.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Maluku Regional Office of the Directorate General of Corrections (Ditjenpas), Ricky Dwi Biantoro, appreciated the quick action and thoroughness of Ambon Detention Center officers in preventing the entry of prohibited items.

The smuggling mode is now increasingly diverse. Therefore, officers must continue to increase their vigilance. This success reflects the implementation of a task full of responsibility and integrity," he said.