Disgraced District Head Has Private Prison Cells to Punish Workers: Rights Group

Jail cells are discovered at the house of Langkat district head Terbit Rencana Perangin Angin in North Sumatra. (Picture courtesy of Migrant Care)

Jakarta. A district head in North Sumatra who is being apprehended under corruption charges has private jail cells at his home to lock palm oil plantation workers, a human rights group said on Monday.

Terbit Rencana Perangin Angin, the head of the district of Langkat, has developed two prison-like rooms with iron bars and brick walls, according to Migrant Care, an NGO specializing in migrant employees’ rights.

” There are 2 prison cells at the district head’s house and they have been utilized to secure at least 40 employees,” said Anis Hidayat, the group’s lead researcher.

She stated in a statement that the finding has been reported to the National Commission for Human Rights, or Komnas HAM, for alleged slavery.

The cells were integrated in the yard and surrounded by high walls.

Anis said there were reports of employees being locked in the cells, beaten, and fed just twice a day.

” Their incomes weren’t paid either,” she added.

” We have actually filed a report on the inhuman act to the Komnas HAM once we found out that a district head who apparently safeguarded his individuals has misused authority to commit gross violations to human rights.”

Komnas HAM Commissioner Choirul Anam stated the commission prepares to right away send an investigation team to the district head’s residence to follow up the report.

Choirul said his office has gotten a lot of pictures and video footage explaining believed slavery committed by the district head.

He added the commission will cooperate with the police to locate victims and collect more evidence.

Terbit was apprehended by the Corruption Removal Commission or KPK on January 19 for presumably taking Rp 786 million in kickback cash from a business owner who won jobs from the district federal government.

He is one of the wealthiest local leaders in the country with a personal wealth of Rp 85 billion ($ 5.9 million) according to his public disclosure.

Terbit is the 3rd local leader to be jailed by the KPK in simply two weeks, following the arrest of Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi and North Penajam Paser District Head Abdul Gafur Mas’ ud.