800 Cellphones Belonging To Prisoners In Salemba Class II A Prison Burned By Officers

Officers destroy cellphones confiscated from inmates at Class IIA Salemba Prison/ Photo: Rizky Sulistio/ VOI

JAKARTA - A total of 800 confiscated cellphones belonging to inmates or prisoners in prison (WBP) at the Class II A Salemba Correctional Institution were destroyed by correctional officers from the Jakarta Kemenkumham Regional Office, Thursday, March 10, afternoon.

The destruction was carried out in the field area, Class II A Salemba Prison by burning in two barrels filled with gasoline.

Head of the DKI Jakarta Kemenkumham Regional Office, Ibnu Chuldun, said that his party had carried out the destruction of confiscated evidence during raids by the Jakarta Correctional Service Internal Compliance Operational Unit (Satopspatnal) since several months ago.

"We will destroy mobile phones and other tools by burning them," Ibnu told VOI, Thursday, March 10.

The destruction of this evidence was carried out after Satopspatnal checked a number of residential blocks of prisoners in Salemba Prison. Checks include the appropriateness of food, clean water, sanitation, air and lighting.

"We also emphasize to the officers not to commit violence against the inmates and not to do anything that can demean the inmates. Let us provide guidance and protection of human rights," said Ibnu.

Despite having checked the feasibility of human rights at the Salemba Prison, the DKI Jakarta Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights will conduct a re-evaluation. The same activities will also be carried out in prisons and detention centers in Jakarta in stages.

Meanwhile, the Head of Class II A Salemba Prison, Yosafat Rizanto, said that the evidence from the raid as many as 800 cellphones that were destroyed by burning was the result of a 1 year raid.

"During 2020 to 2021 a total of 800 cellphones and chargers and cables were confiscated. The evidence was secured from all blocks. Raids are carried out twice a week," he said.