REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BENGKALIS-- The class II A prison in Bengkalis, Riau has been much over crowded with the number of inmates 370 percent of the capacity, the prison head Agus Prianto has said. The prison now holds 1,476 convicts as against the normal capacity of only 393 inmates.

He said only a group of 15 officers guarded the prison every time. The number was much below the standard considered ideal to watch out such big number of convicts.

Ideally the prison should have a group of 35-40 guards every time, he said.

"Fortunately there has been no problem in security until now. The inmates have complained about the condition but it was only minor problems," he said here on Friday.

He said the largest number of the inmates are drug convicts. Therefore, rehabilitation of the prisoners was sought through religious education.

"Special religious education has been organized attended by 70 convicts as students. They are placed in separate block in the prison," Agus said.

The government has acknowledged many prisons in the country hold inmates more than their capacity.

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