Mahfud MD: Amnesty Hasto And Abolition Tom Lembong Evidence Of Legal Engineering Can Be Faced By President

JAKARTA - Former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD assessed that the abolition for Tom Lembong and amnesty to Hasto Kristiyanto should not be a legal tool. President Prabowo Subianto is considered firm against the politicization that occurs by giving forgiveness.

"President Prabowo took a strategic step in upholding justice by granting amnesty to Hasto and abolition to Tom Lembong," Mahfud said in his X account, @mohmahfudmd quoted Friday, August 1.

"In the future, Mahfud hopes that legal politicization events such as those experienced by Hasto, who are the Secretary General of PDIP and Tom as former Minister of Trade for the 2015-2016 period will no longer occur. Because if it is done it can be confronted by the President," he said.

For information, Hasto was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison after being found guilty in the bribery case for the interim replacement (PAW) of members of the Indonesian House of Representatives for the 2019-2024 period handled by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Meanwhile, Tom Lembong was sentenced to 4.5 years and a fine of Rp. 750 million by the judge in the case of corruption in sugar imports handled by the Attorney General's Office (AGO).

As previously reported, the Indonesian House of Representatives approved the granting of amnesty to the Secretary General of PDIP Hasto Kristiyanto who was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison in connection with the bribery case for the interim replacement (PAW) of the PDIP faction of the DPR. This decision is the result of a consultation meeting between the government and the DPR today at the request for consideration and approval of a letter from the President.

"The granting of approval and consideration of the President's letter number R42 Pres 07 2025 dated July 30, 2025 regarding amnesty to 1,116 people who have been convicted is granted amnesty including Hasto Kristiyanto's brother," said Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, Thursday, July 31.

In addition to Hasto's amnesty, the DPR also gave considerations and approvals for Presidential letter number R43/Pres072025 dated July 30, 2025 regarding the request for consideration of the DPR RI for granting abolition on behalf of Tom Lembong's brother.

"Abolition of Tom Lembong. Pres number R43/Pres 07 2025 dated July 30, 2025, on the consideration of the DPR RI's approval of giving an abolition to Tom Lembong's brother," said Dasco.

Abolition is the elimination or elimination of a criminal event. This term is contained in Article 14 of the 1945 Constitution which regulates the prerogative or the privilege of the president by taking into account the considerations of the DPR RI.