TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The plan to revise the regulation limiting remission and parole to corruption convicts sparks public criticism. The government has been urged to consistently enforce Government Regulation No. 32/1999 on the Rights of Prisoners.
Arsul Sani, a member of the United Development Party (PPP) Faction at the House of Representatives (DPR), suggested that the regulation should not be amended yet since it has just been passed.
"The regulation accommodates corruption eradication efforts, and public supports it," Arsul told Tempo on Sunday, March 15, 2015.
Based on the regulation, inmates convicted for corruption, drugs and terrorism charges are not entitled to remissions, and are restrained from pursuing their rights of remission. To gain a remission, a convict must be willing to cooperate in exposing the mastermind of a graft case and pay the fine and compensation charged by the court.
Earlier, Justice and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly initiated a plan to revise the requirements for remissions since they contravene Law No. 12/1995 on Penitentiaries (Penitentiaries Law). The regulation states that all inmates are entitled to remissions and paroles.
Arsul argued that there were no contradictions found in the two regulations. Article 12 paragraph 2 of the Penitentiaries Law states that the government has the authority to apply different requirements in giving remissions.
"An extraordinary crime, such corruption, must be treated extraordinarily," Arsul said.
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