A photo of graft convict Setya Novanto hanging out with his wife in West Bandung has been circulating online over the last few days.
The Law and Human Rights Ministry has made a decision to move Novanto from Sukamiskin prison in Bandung to Gunung Sindur prison in Bogor.
The former speaker of the House of Representatives was transferred to Gunung Sindur prison at 9.30 pm on Friday. Novanto reportedly left his cell on Wednesday for medical treatment at Santosa Hospital, Bandung, and returned to the prison on Friday at 7 pm. However, witnesses found him relaxing at a shopping centre in Padalarang in black trousers and a short-sleeved shirt.
Liberty Sitinjak, head of the West Java Law and Human Rights Agency, said that Novanto was immediately questioned after he returned. Liberty added that the Gunung Sindur prison would be the best choice for Novanto. The Bogor prison has been known to implement a very tight security system, as most inmates are terrorism convicts and former drug dealers.
“It is clear enough that Novanto was breaking the rules before he returned from the hospital. He did not go straight to the prison and he had tricked our security staff,” Liberty added. He stated that the management will investigate and assess the staff who were watching Novanto at the time.
In April 2018, Setya Novanto was sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Jakarta Corruption Court. He was found guilty of rigging 5.9 trillion rupiah in the e-KTP project, which then caused the government to lose 2.3 trillion.
This is not the first time that Setya Novanto has escaped from prison. A few months ago, he was also found eating lunch at a government hospital. In September last year, the Indonesian Ombudsman claimed that Novanto had enjoyed special treatment at Sukamiskin prison, with a larger room and extra facilities.
Source: The Jakarta Post
Image: Tempo