In what a minister called” a fresh approach” to combating corruption, Indonesia plans to forgive graft criminals and suspects who agree to transfer stolen goods to the state.
According to Chief Legal Affairs Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra, the main goal of the new strategy is to recover stolen goods for public use.
We want legislation enforcement to use the stolen funds to benefit the people by returning them to the state’s funds. What is the advantage of our people if bone criminals are just put in jail? Minister Yusril made the announcement to BTV last Friday ( Dec 20 ).
Some critics have disputed the idea, which President Prabowo Subianto brought up on Wednesday ( 18 December ) during his trip to Egypt ).  ,
Mr. Prabowo said his government does offer ways for graft suspects and convicts to covertly returning what they stole in the coming weeks or months.
I’m allowing them to turn their heads. Hey you corrupters, or those who feel that you have stolen from the people, if you return what you stole, we may pardon you, but please return it”, Prabowo said in a statement at Cairo’s Al-Azhar University that was attended by thousands of Indonesian college students.  ,
The government is working on a presidential order, which will include a date, according to Minister Yusril.
According to Yusril,” The political pardon may be granted if they return the stolen goods by August 1, 2025 at the latest,” according to news outlet Jakarta Globe. The president has the authority to forgive criminals or suspects under Article 14 of the 1945 Constitution, which supersedes legal norms, noted Yusril.
He claimed that the broader program aimed at addressing the nation’s overcrowded prisons is the cause of the proposed forgive of bone criminals.  ,
Earlier this month, it was reported that Prabowo plans to give asylum to over 40, 000 individuals, or about 30 per cent of the region’s prison population. Pharmaceutical criminals, those with mental illnesses, and those imprisoned in Papua province for criticizing the government are among those who may be pardoned.  ,
Without providing figures, Yusril said bone defendants make up only a small percentage of the 44, 000 prisoners who could receive a political pardon.
He said that transplant suspects under investigation who agree to return the stolen funds may be eligible for pardons as well, noting that those who do so won’t face charges and won’t be identified.
According to him,” Those who are being investigated or tried for corruption will get cleared of charges if they return the stolen position assets,” according to the Jakarta Globe.  ,
” After years of focusing on disciplinary measures, it’s obvious that we need a fresh approach to address this enduring issue”, added Yusril, highlighting Indonesia’s “worsening” efficiency in global problem positions.