Viral video of prison warden's residence raid is old, says corrections agency

A viral video depicting a raid on the official residence of the Waingapu prison warden in East Sumba, Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT), has been clarified by the Directorate General of Corrections (Ditjenpas). The agency confirmed the footage is from November 2024 and that the resident, identified only as RB, has faced consequences.

RB, who previously served as the Waingapu prison warden, was promptly removed from his position. He is currently undergoing administrative examination and is on temporary leave from his role as a civil servant at the Ditjenpas Provincial Office in Jambi. This action follows his alleged involvement in drug trafficking, for which he is currently detained by the Jambi Regional Police.

The Ditjenpas spokesperson, Rika Aprianti, emphasized that the video circulating online is an old recording being re-shared with inaccurate narratives regarding the timeline. She reiterated the Ditjenpas's firm commitment to zero tolerance for violations and assured that strict sanctions would be applied if proven.

Aprianti also appealed to the public to be discerning consumers of information, to avoid forming premature opinions without factual basis, and to refrain from spreading potentially misleading content. The agency stressed the importance of verifying information and understanding the full context of events before sharing them to prevent public misunderstanding and disinformation.