Jakarta: Bali nine member Michael Czugaj is among 66 prisoners who have been transferred to a remote jail in East Java after prison authorities said they caught him with traces of the drug ice in Bali's Kerobokan jail.

The shock move comes two days before the first anniversary of the execution of eight drug offenders in Indonesia, including Bali nine co-ordinators Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan.

The future of rehabilitation projects Sukumaran helped establish in Kerobokan jail, including art classes and a T-shirt printing business, are in doubt after the two Iranian prisoners he entrusted to take over after his death were also moved.

Myuran Sukumaran in the art room at Kerobokan prison in 2012. Photo: Michael Bachelard

The transfer of 66 prisoners to Madiun Prison in East Java at 4am on Wednesday morning was so sudden that prisoners did not have time to collect clothes or even cigarettes.

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Seven foreigners were moved, including Czugaj and six Iranians.

The head of Bali's prison division, Nyoman Putra Surya Atmaja, said prison officers had found traces of used sabu sabu (ice) when they searched Czugaj's cell.

Rouhallah Series Abadi, the Iranian inmate Myuran Sukumaran entrusted to take over the art room in Kerobokan jail. Photo: Supplied

"He was heavily addicted to drugs. He admitted to using drugs, but we only found a trace of used drugs," Mr Nyoman said. "Legally we can't charge him with evidence. He said he got it from a visitor. But he never said who. That's why we moved him. So he is kept away from his Bali drug network."

Mr Nyoman said the 66 prisoners who had been transferred were those who were "emotionally easy to provoke and who caused disturbances".

The transfer comes a week after a riot broke out at Kerobokan jail, with fires lit and prison bars broken after 11 members of the notorious Laskar Bali gang were admitted to the prison.

Michael Czugaj, left, at Kerobokan prison. Photo: AP

Those involved in the jail rehabilitation projects expressed shock, sadness and anger at the transfer of Iranians Ali Reza Safar Khanloo and Rouhallah Series Abadi, whom Sukumaran had asked to continue running Kerobokan jail's T-shirt printing business and the art room.

"In the short term I don't see anyway for the BengKer (prison workshop) to remain viable. I feel really sad," one insider told Fairfax Media.

"For them to destroy the BengKer is just mean. What a mess. What a waste of years of effort."

The insider said Rahol and Ali, as they are known, had been a calming influence on the jail.

Rahol, who helped organise supplies and weekly classes in the art room, recently spoke of how much he missed Sukumaran and still felt his presence in Kerobokan.

"His body is dead but still his soul is here," he said.

Ali had been experimenting with producing skateboards and bags, as well as T-shirts, in the prison workshop.

He had recently designed a T-shirt featuring a striking image of Sukumaran releasing doves of peace from a map of Australia, which he wanted to send to Sukumaran's family to commemorate Sukumaran's birthday on April 17.

"They are saying they are transferring the troublemakers - it's just revenge from the warden and chief of security," one prisoner said.

"With the workshop I have no idea what is going to happen. What they are doing is totally making me confused. It's like they don't care about the rehabilitation programs."

"This is the saddest day. Like we are fighting a losing battle," said another prisoner.

However Mr Nyoman, the head of Bali's prison division, said Rahol and Ali were not the leaders of the art room and T-shirt printing businesses.

"The leaders are prison guards. Not prisoners.The guards are still there," he said.

And Dadang Iskandar, the prison officer in charge of the BengKer, said the programs would continue "just with different members".

He said Indonesia always made decisions in the best interests of prisoners: "All the prisoners were transferred with good intentions."

April 29 marks the first anniversary of the execution of eight drug offenders, including Chan and Sukumaran, on Nusakambangan island, known as Indonesia's Alcatraz.

The two Australians had been sentenced to death in 2006 for their role in the foiled attempt to smuggle 8.3 kilograms of heroin from Indonesia to Australia. Czugaj is serving life imprisonment.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo had refused to grant Chan and Sukumaran clemency, despite claims the Australians had reformed in prison.

Their legal team argued that Chan had become a pastor in prison and both men helped establish rehabilitation programs behind bars, including art, yoga, computer and cooking classes.

with Amilia Rosa

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