“We believe that President Prabowo did not intend to interfere with our law enforcers’ work. The President decided to address legal and political issues within Constitutional limits,” DPR Commission III chair Habiburokhman said in written remarks on Friday.
Habiburokhman, whose commission oversees law enforcement, made the remarks in response to the recent clemency granted to former minister Thomas Lembong and the amnesty awarded to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) secretary general Hasto Kristiyanto.
The legislator stated that Lembong and Kristiyanto were not found to have enriched themselves or misappropriated state coffers.
“We also understand that President Prabowo indeed considered his actions for the greater good of our nation,” he added.
Habiburokhman said that all of Prabowo’s predecessors exercised their right to grant pardon, including Soekarno, who enacted Law No. 11 of 1954 on amnesties for crimes during the Independence War; Abdurrahman Wahid, who granted clemencies to political prisoners; and Joko Widodo.
Hence, President Prabowo’s clemency to Kristiyanto and Lembong is correct and in keeping with the Indonesian Constitution and laws, he added.
The Indonesian Parliament on Thursday approved clemency for former trade minister Lembong, who was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison for corruption related to the issuance of sugar import permits, which resulted in state losses of Rp194.72 billion.
It also approved amnesty for Kristiyanto, who was found guilty of bribery linked to the appointment of a member of parliament and obstructing the investigation into the Harun Masiku case. Kristiyanto was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison.
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Translator: Melalusa Susthira, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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