Indonesia’s Ombudsman has uncovered more than 10 unusually well-equipped rooms inside Cibinong Class IIA Prison in West Java, including units with televisions, refrigerators, kitchens and other household facilities, prompting an official investigation.

The rooms were found on September 23 in a rear section of the prison complex, separate from ordinary inmate housing, according to the Ombudsman. Officials said around six or seven people believed to be inmates were found in the area.

Ombudsman member Fikri Yasin told ANTARA that the facilities were of “apartment standard,” saying the small units appeared to contain a full range of household equipment.

Another Ombudsman member, Syafrida Rachmawati Rasahan, told detikJabar that at least one occupant identified himself as an inmate and said he had paid to stay there.

“He admitted he was an inmate, that it was paid, that he spent money,” Syafrida said, according to detikJabar.

Authorities have not established how much money was allegedly paid, who received it, or whether similar arrangements involved other inmates. The Ombudsman has therefore not concluded that a systematic paid-accommodation scheme existed.

Prison staff initially told inspectors that some of the buildings were rest areas for employees. The Ombudsman questioned that explanation after finding people believed to be inmates inside.

Inspectors also reported finding alcoholic drinks in a refrigerator and empty bottles in a waste area. Syafrida said the Ombudsman had not determined who owned or consumed the alcohol and cautioned against attributing it to inmates or prison officers before verification.

Inspection initially blocked

The September visit was the Ombudsman’s second attempt to inspect the prison this year. Officials said an earlier visit in July ended without the team being allowed to carry out its inspection.

On September 23, the Ombudsman said its representatives again faced resistance despite carrying official documents and institutional identification. A confrontation involving arguments and pushing occurred before inspectors entered the restricted area. One Ombudsman staff member suffered a minor injury after a leg was caught near a gate.

Fikri told ANTARA that the obstruction made the team more suspicious, asking why inspectors were being prevented from entering.

The Ombudsman later called for the special facilities to be dismantled and said it planned another inspection within less than a month.

Corrections authority opens inquiry

Indonesia’s Directorate General of Corrections said it had formed a team to examine the findings.

Director General of Corrections Mashudi told reporters that the inquiry would cover infrastructure, administrative records, service standards and security procedures. He said information provided by the Ombudsman would be examined “objectively.”

Mashudi also said officers would face action if the investigation established violations, while stressing that authorities would not prejudge the outcome.

The government has also invited journalists to inspect the site. Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra told ANTARA that authorities needed to determine whether the buildings were staff housing, facilities for inmates nearing release, or unauthorized accommodation for prisoners able to pay.

“Today, the media are welcome to report directly on what the Ombudsman found,” Yusril said in a statement reported by detikNews.

The central allegations remain under investigation. While the existence of the unusually equipped rooms has been documented by the Ombudsman, authorities have yet to establish who authorized them, who used them, and whether money was exchanged for access.