Solving The Overcapacity Problem, The Government Will Build A Prison Using BLBI Obligor's Land

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD during a press conference at the Class I prison in Tangerang. Photo Source: Special

JAKARTA - The government will use land from the obligor of the Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance (BLBI) to build a correctional facility to solve the problem of overcapacity.

This was conveyed by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD after the fire incident in the Class I prison in Tangerang, Banten, which killed 41 people.

"I have spoken with the Ministry of Finance earlier, the lands from the BLBI that we now control are okay. Later how many correctional institutions will be needed throughout Indonesia," Mahfud said in a press conference after visiting the Class I prison in Tangerang, Banten, Wednesday, September 8.

The Minister of Law and Human Rights (Menkumham) Yasonna Laoly has also discussed the construction of this prison. According to Mahfud, the discourse has actually been discussed since 2004 but has not been implemented due to various considerations including budget issues.

But Mahfud emphasized that the government will focus on this in order to prevent excess capacity in prisons.

"Me and Mr. Menkumham will be more focused in the near future. I said that people need money and land to build," said the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK).

"I said I was looking for the land, you need how many thousand hectares later we will find the cost," added Mahfud.

In his statement, Mahfud expressed his condolences for the fire incident that claimed the lives of the victims. In addition, Mahfud also thanked the officers who did their best to deal with the fire.

As previously reported, a fire occurred at the Class I prison in Tangerang, Banten, on Wednesday, September 8 in the morning. Initially, the incident occurred due to an electrical short circuit and the fire raged for approximately two hours.

This fire resulted in the death of 41 inmates, of which two were foreigners from South Africa and Portugal. Meanwhile, the injured victims have now been taken to the Tangerang Regional Hospital to undergo treatment and receive treatment.

Regarding this incident, the Head of Public Relations and Protocol of the Directorate General of Corrections, Rika Apriyanti, admitted that the number of inmates at the Class I prison in Tangerang exceeded the capacity. In fact, almost three times the capacity.

"If the condition of the prison is over capacity, yes," said Rika to reporters, Wednesday, September 8.

Based on the data, the capacity of Class I Tangerang prison should ideally accommodate 900 inmates. However, the reality is that currently the prison is filled with more than 2,000 convicts of various crimes.

"From the supposed capacity of 900, it is currently filled with 2,069 people," he said.