Hundreds of inmates sent home in Banjarbaru

Banjarbaru, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Hundreds of fostered residents (inmates) of the Banjarbaru Class IIB Penitentiary were returned to their respective homes to prevent transmission of the CoronaVirus (COVID-19). 

Head of the penitentiary Herliadi here on Thursday (April 2, 2020) said, the release of 281 prisoners was carried out according to the government policy through the Ministry of Law and Human Rights.  

"The intention of release is to prevent the transmission of CoronaVirus within the prison and those who released referring to the provision, such as already serving 2/3 of sentence period and the sentences under five years," he explained. 

The 281 freed inmates consisted of 171 people with parole status, 101 under conditional leave, and 3 prisoners were in the process of leaving before being released.

He emphasized, even though hundreds of inmates were sent home, they were still being watched by officers from Correctional Center (Bapas) and Prosecutors Office (Kejari). They were asked not to move freely or wander everywhere.

"Their identities have been recorded and during the assimilation outside prison will be supervised by officers from Bapas and Kejari. They are expected to stay at home, not to make a free activity," he insisted. 

According to him, the release of hundreds of inmates was enough to make the atmosphere in the penitentiary become relaxed, although the total number of inhabitants remained 1.858 people out of the capacity of 1.000 people. 

Meanwhile, prisoners were also sent home in other districts and cities in South Kalimantan, including in Amuntai Penitentiary, Kandangan Penitentiary, and Rantau Penitentiary.