TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Anti-corruption activist and former Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher Tibiko Zabar warned that granting sentence reductions to corruption convicts risks weakening the deterrent effect of anti-graft measures.
“Because with remission, the punishment for corruptors will practically be reduced, ultimately leading to a quick release from detention,” said Tibiko on Tuesday, March 8, 2025.
According to data, 288 inmates convicted of corruption at Sukamiskin Prison in Bandung, West Java, received remission for Eid al-Fitr this year. Among them is Setya Novanto, a former lawmaker convicted in the electronic ID card procurement case.
Tibiko emphasized that the government should not treat corrupt convicts the same as other prisoners when granting remissions. She pointed out that corruption is an extraordinary crime, made worse by the fact that law enforcement in Indonesia remains far from ideal.
Throughout 2023, she said, those convicted of corruption were sentenced to an average of only three years in prison.
“Coupled with the minimal imposition of fines and other additional penalties such as the payment of restitution, revocation of political rights, and prosecution for money laundering,” she added.
Tibiko argued that corruption is not just a crime, but a serious abuse of authority and betrayal of the public trust. Therefore, remission rules should be stricter and more selective when applied to corruption cases.
Previously, Government Regulation No. 99 of 2012 stipulated tighter conditions for corrupt convicts to be eligible for remission. They were required to cooperate with law enforcement and fully pay their fines or restitution.
However, the Supreme Court later annulled the regulation, paving the way for more relaxed remission policies.
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