Jakarta Legal Aid Urges Full Investigation on Prison Fire Tragedy
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9 September 2021 20:02 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) is strongly urging authorities to investigate the tragic fire at the Tangerang Penitentiary that killed over 41 inmates in total after dozens were trapped in their cells during the fire.
The LBH Jakarta Head of Advocacy Nelson Nikodemus Simamora urged the government to review the national narcotics legal system that targets drug users, “Which has caused the overcrowding at the penitentiary,” on September 9.
Overcrowding at the Class I Tangerang Penitentiary has been the main subject of the public discussion. The facility that was designed to accommodate 600 inmates was populated by 2,072 inmates, or a 250 percent overcapacity.
“The judicial system which still prioritizes imprisonment [over drug users rehabilitation] is one of the causes of overcrowding,” he added in his written statement.
House of Representatives (DPR) legislators are also called to evaluate the performance of Ministry of Law and Human Rights as it is responsible for the prison system. The Jakarta Legal Aid hopes no more similar cases will arise in the future.
Read: Ministry Official Admits Overcrowding at Tangerang Prison
SYIFA INDRIANI | TD
