Indonesian authorities have suspended five prison officials, including the warden of Cibinong prison, after investigators found a compound of apartment-style residences allegedly used by inmates at the facility near the capital, Jakarta.

Rudi Setiawan, inspector general of the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, announced the suspensions on Tuesday. "We have suspended five structural officials, including the Cibinong prison chief, who are suspected of being responsible for the incident uncovered by the Ombudsman," he said. Dozens of inmates and prison employees have been questioned as part of the inquiry.

The compound was found on September 23 during a surprise inspection by the Ombudsman, the government's public-service watchdog. Cibinong prison is in Bogor, a city in West Java province south of Jakarta. Investigators found more than 10 units standing apart from the regular cellblocks, equipped with air-conditioners, big-screen televisions, refrigerators, sofas and dining areas. They also reported a gym, a golf simulator under construction, and luxury vehicles on the grounds. "We found strong indications that certain inmates had access to special facilities unavailable to ordinary prisoners," said Ombudsman member Syafrida Rachmawati Rasahan. "We encountered inmates inside the residential compound and discovered facilities resembling homestays, apartments and villas rather than prison housing."

The buildings were originally meant as official housing for prison staff. Investigators are examining whether they were converted into unauthorised accommodation for inmates. The BBC reported that prison officials have claimed the units were for staff, although other officials said the residences appeared to house inmates. The identities of those who stayed in the compound have not been officially disclosed.

The prison, which covers about 4 hectares (10 acres), holds a mix of inmates, including people convicted of corruption and other high-profile prisoners. Lawmakers, anticorruption activists and watchdog groups have urged authorities to establish which prisoners occupied the units and whether officials accepted payments in exchange for the privileges.

The case has drawn wide public attention and renewed scrutiny of Indonesia's prisons, which have long faced allegations that wealthy or well-connected inmates can obtain special treatment through bribery. The system has also struggled for years with overcrowding and corruption. An investigation in 2010 already found that some inmates lived in luxury behind bars, suggesting the problem has persisted despite earlier exposure. How far the current inquiry reaches, and whether it leads to further action against officials or inmates, remains to be seen.