REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PALU -- Around 1,090 inmates of Palu Penitentiary, Central Sulawesi, who were released from custody after the earthquake and tsunami, have yet to return. According to Law and Human Rights Ministry’s director general for corrections, Sri Puguh Budi Utami, from all detainees, 204 of them chose to stay, 360 reported themselves in, and 1,090 were still outside.

Director general for corrections has not conducted a search for the prisoners whereabouts. The authorities would wait until the condition in Central Sulawesi is back to normal.

“Until water, electricity, supplies are normal then we ask them to return,” said Sri on Tuesday (Oct 9).

The wall of Palu Penitentiary ruined by earthquake that hit the area on Sept 28 evening.

Also read: Central Sulawesi disaster death toll rises to 2,002

Sri stressed the correctional institution must ensure first that they can provide basic services to the inmates. So far, suppliers of goods and food ingredients have also not been able to provide the needs.

Despite lack of basic services, some of inmates choose to stay at Palu Penitentiary, Petobo, Palu, Central Sulawesi, Wednesday (Oct 3).

Meanwhile, when being asked about prison renovation plan Sri said that it had been proposed to the government. Apparently, it could not be done this year.

An earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter Scale, which was updated by Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) to 7.4 occurred in Palu and Donggala regions on last Friday (Sept 28) at 05.02 p.m. local time. This earthquake triggered a tsunami with 0.5 to six meters high on the west coast of Central Sulawesi Province. Palu Penitentiary released its prisoners due to the catastrophe.

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