(8/23/2008)
Antara News Agency estimates that 24 foreign nationals are now housed as prisoners in Denpasar's main Kerobokan prison.
The prison’s warden, Yon Suharyono, said, "of the number, 18 are convicted prisoners and six detainees." Detainees are traditionally held at the prison while awaiting trial.
The group of
"imported" inmates hail for 10 different countries, with the majority serving time for narcotics-related offenses. Antara's head count of foreign prisoners tallies 11 Australians, 4 Japanese, 2 Swiss nationals, 1 Nepalese, 1 Algerian, 1 American, 1 South African, 1 Briton, 1 Hungarian and 1 Korean.
Included in the 11 Australians are members of the "Bali 9" drug smuggling group, 3 of whom are under sentence of death for trying to carry 8.2 kilograms of heroin through Bali's airport. Shapelle Corby is another Australian prisoner serving a 20 year sentence after being convicted of carrying 4.2 kilograms of marijuana from Australia to Bali.
Prison Badly Over-Crowded
According to Surharyono, the Kerobokan prison presently houses 897 inmates, exceeding by 150% the facilities design capacity of 360 prisoners.
The roll call at the Kerobokan prison:
● 600 convicted criminals and 297 detainees awaiting trials.
● 403 (44.9%) of the prisoners behind bar on drug-related charges (303 convicted, 100 detainees)
● Of the 403 convicted drug offenders, 268 are men and 35 women.
● Of the 100 drug-related detainees, 85 are men and 15 women.
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