The Palatial Penitentiary

During the two most important periods in her life-outside and inside jail-Artalyta "Ayin" Suryani has proven herself to be a strong communicator. Rich, popular and successful Ayin, 47, has good relations with prosecutors, religious leaders, police officers, politicians and senior Palace officials. Her lobbying skills transcend boundaries, bypassing bureaucratic hurdles.

Almost two years of incarceration has not dimmed these strengths: Ayin is an easygoing and flexible communicator. From jail she is still able to control her business network. She is free to receive assistants, servants, family members, private drivers and her company executives at any time.

The story of Ayin's life at the Pondok Bambu Penitentiary in East Jakarta is only a small facet of something that highlights a massive problem: the weakness of our judicial system, which allows jail cells to be transformed into super-luxury rooms for those who have money and power. Law enforcement and justice will be one of the heaviest pieces of homework facing the Judicial Mafia Eradication Task Force, which started work in early January.