Sentenced To 5.6 Years In Prison, Former PPU Regent Abdul Gafur Mas'ud Confined In Block B Balikpapan Prison

Prison illustration. (Pixabay)

BALIKPAPAN - The former Regent of North Penajam Paser (PPU) Abdul Gafur Mas'ud alias AGM has officially become a member of the Class II A Balikpapan Correctional Institution (Lapas).

Gafur will serve a prison sentence of 5 years and 6 months from the Corruption Court (Tipikor) Samarinda since his transfer. He will first undergo an environmental introduction program (penaling).

Gafur was like other inmates at the beginning of his sentence. He will be informed of his rights and obligations as a prisoner and inmate during the trial period. This includes prison regulations.

"We placed it in Block B Number 7," said Balikpapan prison head Pujiono Slamet, quoted from Antara, Sunday, October 24.

After finishing the penling, Gafur will be placed in a normal cell in the residential block.

Previously, when he arrived with the KPK Prosecutor in the middle of last week, Gafur also had to undergo a filing procedure and a health check. Checked carefully whether Gafur has an infectious disease or not other than his medical history.

According to Pujiono, penling is useful, among other things, as a period of adaptation, not only for the prisoners concerned, but also for officers.

"Of course, we are not careless, because of the 1,000 prisoners in this prison, we don't know whether there are enemies with AGM or not. During this penal period, we also pay attention to everything,” said Pujiono.

He added that the suspension period was between a week and a month. If during the penal period a new prisoner enters, the person who is undergoing penal will automatically be replaced by a new prisoner.

Kalapas also explained that prisoners are usually placed in detention blocks based on the crimes they have committed. Therefore, there are blocks for corruptors or tax evaders, there are cell blocks for murder crimes, drug crimes, and others.

Even earlier, prisoners were segregated by sex. Separate male prisoners, for women also separate. However, currently, there are no female prisoners in the Balikpapan prison.

However, because the Balikpapan prison is currently overcrowded, cells for corruptors are also filled with prisoners of other crimes.

Abdul Gafur Mas'ud (35), was jailed for bribery. He received up to IDR 5.7 billion from a number of partners who got jobs or projects in Penajam Paser Utara, the district he leads.

Gafur was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in Jakarta, on January 13, 2022, with evidence of Rp1 billion in cash, while he was in a mall.

In addition to being sentenced to 5 years and 6 months, the judge of the corruption court (tipikor) also fined Gafur IDR 300 million, which if not paid will be an additional 4 months' sentence. Not only that but Gafur is also obliged to return the state loss money of IDR 4.1 billion, which if not paid must be replaced with an additional 3 years and 6 months in prison.

While serving his sentence, Gafur's political rights were revoked. The former chairman of the Balikpapan Democratic Party cannot participate in the election.