Syakirun Niam, Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) has suggested that the scores of corruption convicts who are now breathing fresh air after being released on parole this month should express their thanks to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and the House of Representatives (DPR).
ICW researcher Kurnia Ramadhan has also proposed that they immediately put together a schedule to visit the State Palace and the DPR building.
"The ICW suggests to the scores of corruptors that they immediately schedule a visit to the State Palace and the DPR so they can express their gratitude directly to President Joko Widodo and all of the DPR members", said Ramadhan in a message sent to Kompas.com on Friday September 9.
Ramadhan believes that the government and the DPR have both shared in allowing scores of corruption convicts to be freed from correctional institutions (Lapas).
According to Ramadhana, without the revisions to the Law on Corrections, which was enacted on August 3, these corruptors would not be able to be released on parole.
"Without the revisions to the Corrections Law, there is a good possibility that the majority of this gang of corruptors would find it impossible to obtain parole", said Ramadhan.
As has been reported, as many as 23 corruption convicts were released on parole on September 6.
Directorate General of Corrections Protocol and Public Relations Head (Ditjen Pas) and Justice and Human Rights Ministry (Kemenkumham) spokesperson Rika Aprianti said that the 23 convicts had been detained in two different correctional institutions.
“The 23 corruption convicts who were released on September 6, 2022 were from two prisons, namely the Sukamiskin Class I Lapas and the Tangerang IIA Class Lapas", said Aprianti in an official release.
Among those released were former Banten governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah and her younger brother Tubagus Chaeri Wardana, former prosecutor Sirna Malasari who only served one year of a 10 year sentence before being released from prison, former Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali, former Constitutional Court justice Patrialis Akbar, and others.
The latest to be released was former Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Jero Wacik who was released on the evening of Thursday September 8.
Aprianti explained that the 23 corruption convicts had been released on parole while Wacik obtained leave in the lead up to his release.
They were all considered to have fulfilled the administrative and substantive requirements such as good behaviour, being actively involved in rehabilitation programs and were low risk.
The convicts had also served two-thirds of their sentence where the minimum sentence was nine months. These requirements are regulated under Article 10 of Law Number 22/2022 on Corrections.
Aprianti said that the convicts had fulfilled the administrative and substantive requirements. After being released from prison, they must take part in a guidance program at a specified correctional agency.
"All of the convicts who have fulfilled the administrative and substantive requirements as mentioned above are entitled to conditional right such parole, conditional leave and leave prior to release", said Aprianti.
Notes
The rules on remissions and early release from prison were previously regulated under in Government Regulation Number 99/2012 on Correctional Procedures, which required corruption convicts to become justice collaborators before being eligible for parole. The regulation however was revoked by the Constitutional Court. Under the revisions to the Corrections Law enacted on August 3, 2022, parole can be now be granted to corruption convicts if they fulfill conditions such as good behavior and actively participate in the correctional program.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was " ICW Usul 24 Koruptor yang Bebas Berterima Kasih ke Presiden dan DPR".]
