The Indonesian National Human Rights Commission assessed that the fire incident that occurred at the Class 1 Tangerang Penitentiary (Lapas) which killed more than 40 people on Wednesday (8/9) was a humanitarian problem. This was conveyed by Komnas HAM Chairman Ahmad Taufan Damanik while reviewing the Tangerang Class 1 Prison on Thursday (9/9).

"We express our concern. This is actually a tragedy, 40 people died, it's not a problem, it's a humanitarian problem," Taufan told reporters, Thursday (9/9).

He explained, based on the results of the review, the thing that was most emphasized was the overcapacity of prisons. Taufan said that this is a systemic problem that must be immediately resolved by the relevant parties because the impact is serious, extending to the criminal.

"Based on the experience of Komnas, we have collaborated with the Director General of Lapas throughout Indonesia, indeed over capacity is a systemic problem. We have to look more broadly that it has something to do with the criminal system, especially those related to drugs, there must be a comprehensive solution for that," he explained.

Furthermore, Taufan asked the police to conduct a more in-depth investigation into the cause of the fire incident. "We ask to conduct a more in-depth, more objective, and transparent investigation so that the public knows what really happened," he said.

The fire incident occurred in the Class 1 Tangerang prison, killing 44 people as of Thursday (9/9) morning. The latest data from the Directorate General of PAS at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights noted that three more people died on Thursday (9/9) from the previously reported 41 inmates who died.

Of these, 40 people died at the scene, namely in block C2, one person died on the way to the hospital, then three others died while being treated intensively at the Tangerang District Hospital. The police said that the suspected cause of the fire incident at the Class 1 Tangerang prison was due to an electrical short circuit. However, this is still being investigated.

"Based on initial observations, it should be suspected that there was a short circuit in the electric current. Later, it will be investigated again," said Metro Jaya Police Chief, Irjeb Fadil Imran, Wednesday (8/9). Based on the crime scene, the police collected a number of pieces of evidence, including cables and electrical installations. In addition, they also examined 20 witnesses in line with the suspicion of criminal acts in the fire incident.