In Indonesia, Prabowo’s prison island plan for corrupt officials raises eyebrows

A recent prison break has exposed the flaws in Indonesia’s overstretched correctional system. Experts say a complete overhaul is required

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Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto greets guests at an event in Jakarta last month. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:00am, 19 Mar 2025Updated: 8:56am, 19 Mar 2025

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s pledge to construct a remote island prison for corrupt officials has been met with scepticism from experts, who argued that deeper structural reforms of the prison system were needed to address chronic overcrowding and underfunding.

“We will expel [corruptors] from the land of Indonesia if necessary. I will also set aside funds for [building] a very sturdy prison in a remote place where they cannot get out. We will look for an island where, if they get out, they will meet the sharks,” Prabowo said in a speech on March 13, without elaborating on the source of the funds.

Prabowo’s concerns about convicts escaping stem from Indonesia’s notoriously weak prison system, characterised by overcrowding and lax security.

On March 10, 52 inmates escaped from the Kutacane Penitentiary in Indonesia’s northernmost Aceh province. Viral videos showed them scaling the low perimeter fence and spilling out onto a busy road, colliding with bystanders amid the chaos. Others were seen escaping through the roof.

The prison break began with a scuffle as inmates queued for meals to break their fast, according to local police. The situation soon escalated, with a group of prisoners breaking through three locked doors, puncturing a hole in the ceiling and escaping into the outside world.