Tangerang Prison Warden Undergoes 10-hour Questioning at Police HQ

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tangerang Prison warden Victor Teguh Prihartono on Tuesday underwent a 10-hour police questioning at the Metro Jaya Police headquarters in relation to the devastating fire at the prison that tragically killed 41 inmates whose bodies were no longer physically identifiable. 

“The questions were relatively general questions involving his role and task function,” said the director of general crime Grand Commissioner Tubagus Ade Hidayat on Wednesday, September 15. 

Apart from Victor, police also questioned the prison’s head of administration, seven prison employees, and two inmates from the Class 1 Tangerang Penitentiary. The police commissioner said the status of these people remain as witnesses. 

“However, it has been elevated to an investigation which suspects criminal wrongdoing. Who are the suspects? Well, that is currently investigated,” said Hidayat. 

Fire broke out in Class 1 Tangerang Prison, Banten, at around 1:45 a.m. Wednesday, September 8. The Law and Human Rights Ministry's Corrections Director-General Brigadier General Reinhard Silitonga said the incident that killed dozens of inmates occurred in Block C. The C2 block houses 122 inmates in total. 

Read: Tangerang Prison Fire Death Toll Rises To 46

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH