An unauthorized luxury cluster inside Cibinong Class IIA Penitentiary in West Java was demolished on Sept. 30, 2026, after investigators discovered it was built without permits on riverbank land and illegally occupied by inmates. Ministry of Immigration and Corrections officials confirmed the buildings bypassed state asset registries entirely.
Demolition of Unauthorized Structures at Cibinong Penitentiary
Heavy machinery moved into the Cibinong Penitentiary grounds on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 30, 2026, to level a row of unauthorized structures.
The buildings sit on a strip of land designated as a river border zone along a water stream, according to Ministry of Immigration and Corrections Inspector General Rudi Setiawan. Speaking at a press conference on site, Rudi stated that the structures violated local zoning laws because construction in river buffer zones is strictly prohibited. He added that the project did not receive building approval and was never registered as state property.
Inmate Occupancy and Abuse of Authority Findings
Ministry officials confirmed that the luxury housing cluster was actively occupied by prisoners, contradicting earlier claims from prison staff that the site served solely as official quarters for facility officials. Inspector General Rudi Setiawan stated that investigators matched photographic evidence found inside the units to specific inmates currently serving sentences at the facility. Oversight bodies, including the Indonesian Ombudsman and House of Representatives Commission XIII, inspected the site prior to the demolition.
Investigators are now probing prison officials who allowed the illegal construction and inmate habitation to occur. Rudi announced that personnel found responsible face severe disciplinary actions, ranging from demotion and active suspension to dishonorable discharge. Parliamentary oversight members joined Directorate General of Corrections head Mashudi on site to oversee the operation and review internal accountability measures.
Discovery of Prisoners in Assimilation Training Areas
During the same inspection tour alongside House Commission XIII lawmakers, prison inspectors uncovered a separate rule violation at the back of the penitentiary complex. Officials located two inmates inside an assimilation area designated strictly for physical training exercises. Rudi noted that while the assimilation zone had existed for training purposes for an extended period, the presence of the two inmates in that specific context requires further investigation.
Authorities have not yet released the identities or specific legal statuses of the two prisoners found in the training compound. Rudi emphasized that the internal investigation remains ongoing and cautioned that final disciplinary or legal decisions will require a complete review of all witness statements and physical evidence gathered by the oversight team.
Unauthorized luxury housing demolished at Cibinong Penitentiary
What sparked the demolition at Cibinong Penitentiary?
The demolition followed a joint inspection by the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, the Ombudsman, and House Commission XIII, which revealed that unauthorized luxury housing units had been built without permits in a restricted river buffer zone and were occupied by inmates.
Were the demolished buildings funded by the state?
No. Ministry officials confirmed that the structures were built independently through self-funded community or informal efforts rather than using state budget funds allocated through the APBN.
What penalties do prison officials face over the luxury cluster?
Ministry Inspector General Rudi Setiawan stated that implicated staff face severe administrative punishments, including demotion, suspension from duty, and dishonorable discharge, following ongoing internal reviews.