Typo Prison

(Java, Indonesia) This report demonstrates how they simplest of government bureaucratic errors can ruin lives. Convict Kamjai Khong Thavorn, 53, at the Pasir Putih Penitentiary endured three extra years in prison because of a typo.

Kamjai was due for release in 2007 after a 20-year sentence he received in 1987 for heroin possession, but up until Wednesday, he was still behind bars.

Having spent an extra three years in jail for no fault of his own, Kamjai was promptly released on Thursday after a chance meeting with Justice Minister Patrialis Akbar, who happened to be visiting the prison for an inspection.

“Kamjai was released this morning and taken by immigration officials from Cilacap to the Thai Embassy in Jakarta,” Pasir Putih’s warden, Sutrisman, told the Jakarta Globe.

Kamjai was arrested in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, on Aug. 20, 1987, for possession of 17.76 kilograms of heroin and sentenced to life in prison. His sentence was reduced to 20 years by a presidential decree. However, the decree mistakenly stated his first year in prison as 1997, instead of 1987.

Chances are that there will be no consequences for the government worker or department who screwed up. Chalk it up as just another reason why people should never give the government control over their lives. The government always has the freedom to be incompetent with impunity.