Salemba Prison Checked, Officers Seize Dozens Of Cellphones And Homemade Sharp Weapons

Officers conduct a search in the inmates' room at the Salemba Rutan/ Photo: IST

JAKARTA - Correctional officers of the Salemba Class 1 State Detention Center (Rutan Salemba), Central Jakarta, held a surprise inspection (sidak) of dozens of rooms of inmates (prisoners).

The results of the search revealed a number of homemade sharp weapons and cellphones from the inmates' rooms.

"Searched the residential building type 1, Blok R, which consists of 24 residential rooms. 18 cellphones, 21 chargers and 7 earphones were found," said Head of Salemba Rutan Yohanis Varianto when confirmed, Wednesday, December 15, evening.

The search was carried out to maintain security ahead of Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations. Apart from confiscating a number of cellphones, officers also found several homemade sharp weapons.

Officers conduct a search in the inmates' room at the Salemba Rutan/ Photo: IST

"There are two units of artificial weapons, three units of scissors, speakers, pliers and screwdrivers," he said.

Yohanis said the searches were incidental and random.

"The time (of the search) has not been determined. Today, all items were confiscated from 24 residential rooms in Block R," he said.

This activity is a direct instruction from the Director of Security and Order of the Directorate General of PAS as an anticipation of security and order disturbances ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays.

A number of items found in the inmates' room at the Salemba Rutan/ Photo: IST

"So that the Salemba Class I State Detention Center is free from the illicit circulation of narcotics and other prohibited items. And ensure that the existing security facilities and infrastructure are in good condition," he said.