TEMPO.CO, Bandung - Tempo published its investigation results related to corruption convicts who can obtain permits to leave the Sukamiskin correctional facility in Bandung, West Java. Among the convicts are Romi Herton, Rachmat Yasin, and Anggoro Widjojo.
A black Pajero car with a license plate B-1-PLG moved from a house at Antapani, Bandung, on December 15, 2016, at 8:00 PM Wester Indonesia Time to Sukamiskin correctional facility, located 4.5 kilometers from the house.
The car was taking Romi Herton, former Palembang Mayor, back to Sukamiskin. Romi was a convict who received seven years in prison for bribing former Constitutional Court Judge M. Akil Mochtar. Tempo spotted Romi outside the prison for the first time in Santosa Hospital, Bandung. He came alone to visit his wife Masyito, who was being treated at room 830. Masyito also received a prison sentence for the similar case.
In the afternoon, Tempo followed Romi leaving Santosa Hospital on the car and went to Hermina Hospital in Bandung. Before dusk, Romi went back to the house rented by Romi's other wife Lisa Meliani Zako since 2015. Jaya Zakaria, head of Antapani Tengah Community Unit, confirmed the information.
"Mrs. Lisa rented the house," Jaya said.
Romi's leave out of the prison violated Law and Human Rights Minister's Regulation No. 33/2015 on securities of state correctional facilities and detention centers. In addition, Romi's activity to visit Masyito at the hospital was allegedly an excuse so that he can go to the house rented by his other wife for more than once.
Four former Sukamiskin convicts revealed that it was common for convicts at the Sukamiskin Correctional Facility to temporarily get out of the prison.
"A frequent excuse used by the convicts is to visit a sick member of the family," a convict told Tempo.
The source admitted that he once got temporarily out of the prison, but not without a price. According to the source, a convict must pay Rp 5 million-Rp 10 million to a figure of convicts, who will distribute the money to wardens and officials.
Romi has not responded to a confirmation request letter sent by Tempo to the house in Anapani. When delivering the letter, Lisa's maid Ayu revealed that Romi often visited the house. Another letter was also sent via Sukamiskin Correctional Facility head Dedi Handoko.
Four days after the letter was sent, a man named Rambe Purbya contacted Tempo claiming to be Romi's messenger. However, Rambe refused to be quoted by Tempo. Romi's laywer Sirra Prayuna also refused to comment.
Dedi Handoko said that he was not aware of convicts misusing permits that he provided.
"There is no such report," Dedi said in December last year.
Dedi did not deny that there were illegal levies collected from convicts.
"Since I was stationed here [October 2016], such practices have been banned," Dedi said.
TEMPO INVESTIGATION TEAM
Read the full Investigation Report in Tempo Weekly News Magazine and Tempo English Magazine, and Koran Tempo February 6, 2017 edition.
