Baiq Nuril's Amnesty to be Processed by President Jokowi

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Following the House of Representatives' decision to grant amnesty for Baiq Nuril Maknun, Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko announced that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo will soon process the motion.

"It will soon be processed after Senayan had already reached an agreement," said Moeldoko in his office on Friday, July 26, 2019.

Moeldoko predicted that it will possibly be officially announced on Monday, July 26, 2019.

Previously, the House's Plenary Meeting agreed to send Jokowi a letter of recommendation to grant amnesty to Baiq Nuril.

The decision was taken after the House Law Commission deputy speaker, Erma Suryani Ranik read out the result of the session held on Wednesday, July 24, 2019.

"The Commission III puts forward the principle of discussion, so by acclamation agrees to send a recommendation for the Indonesian President to grant Baiq amnesty," said Erma in the plenary meeting room, Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday, July 25, 2019.

Erma considered Baiq as the real victim, and what she did was an effort to protect herself. Hence the Law Commission put the sense of social justice into consideration in giving the pardon.

Baiq Nuril, who was a staffer in Mataram state senior high school (SMA) 7, was declared guilty of violating Law on electronic information and transaction (ITE Law) for spreading a recording of her being sexually assaulted by the headmaster, Muslim.

She asserted to have recorded the phone call for self-defense and to deny issues about the relationship between her and Muslim. The recording was eventually spread by other people. Baiq Nuril was charged with six months imprisonment and Rp 500 million fine for defamation. The Supreme Court (MA) had rejected her appeal.

AHMAD FAIZ IBNU SANI