TakeTwo: Luxury Jail Cells

Looks like for once, jail cells are not looking too shabby! At least, that is the case in Jakarta, Indonesia, where Artalyta Suryani, a business tycoon found guilty of bribing state prosecutor Urip Tri Gunawan, has been exposed of having a luxurious jail cell. In her posh jail cell, there is an air-conditioner, a spacious double bed, flat-screen television, private bathroom and a adjoining karaoke suite. And that's not the end of the list, as she even has her cell serviced by maids and assistants.

Oh yes, did I mention that while she served her 5-year jail sentence, she had: private drivers to collect and drop off goods, beauty treatments, and a private office with pieces of furniture that others in Indonesia could barely afford. Funny thing is, she acquired this hotel-room-esque jail cell with the help of the dollar bill. Ah, the irony. Jail is supposed to be a place for outlaws to reflect and reform; giving these people a chance to turn over a new leaf. Yet, it seems, Artalyta never learns. After being transferred back to an ordinary cell, hope she realises that money can't get you anywhere.

This situation is another dent in Indonesia's already horribly-tarnished reputation, with cases such as the  President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono bail-out money case and other illegal corruption cases already destroying the purity of Indonesia. One shocking fact is that last year, more than 750 police officers were caught accepting bribes, 440 were charged with disciplinary action, 230 were reprimanded for breaching There is even an acronym to represent the state of Indonesia over the past decade, KKN, which is supposed to stand for "Corruption, Collusion and Nepotism". Although a notable effort has been made against corruption, it seems more effort has to be put in.