YOGYAKARTA The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) gave the green light regarding Prabowo Subianto's legal policy against Hasto Kristiyanto and Thomas Trikasih Lembong alias Tom Lembong.
Tom Lembong, who was sentenced to 4.5 years in a corruption case for sugar import activities at the Indonesian Ministry of Trade, received abolition from President Prabowo.
Meanwhile, Hasto was granted an amnesty in the bribery case for the management of PAW DPR member Harun Masiku. In this case, Hasto was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison by the Jakarta Corruption Court.
Prabowo's legal policy towards Hasto and Tom Lembong, namely amnesty and abolition, is a form of forgiveness given by the state. This is stated in Article 14 of the 1945 Constitution (UUD).
Both amnesty and abolition, both are judicial consequences which are the result of the political decisions of executive and legislative powers to relinquish a person's criminal responsibility to be prosecuted if it has not been tried, or to release a convict from the punishment he is serving.
Provisions regarding amnesty and abolition are enshrined in the Emergency Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 11 of 1954. However, the law does not explain in detail the definition of amnesty and abolition.
Quoting a book entitled Law Dictionary: Summary of Terms and Definitions in International Law, Criminal Law, Civil Law, Islamic Law, Labor Law, Agrarian Law, State Administration Law, Tax Law and Environmental Law by Marwan and Jimmy, amnesty is defined as a general statement published through or by law on prosecution as a result of criminal prosecution of a certain criminal act or one group of criminal acts.
Meanwhile, abolition is a right to abolish all consequences of the court's decision or abolish criminal charges against a convict, and to terminate if the decision has been carried out.
Based on Article 1 of Law Number 11 of 1954, the President, on the interests of the state, can grant amnesty and abolition to people who have committed a criminal act.
Furthermore, the president granted amnesty and abolition after receiving written advice from the Supreme Court which delivered the advice at the request of the Minister of Justice.
With the granting of the abolition, all prosecutions for the suspect concerned will be abolished. Meanwhile, granting amnesty will make all due to the criminal law imposed on the recipient of the amnesty abolished.
In the case of Prabowo's legal policy against Hasto and Tom Lembong, all legal processes against the two will be stopped, and both must be released or released. However, the process can be carried out after the Presidential Decree (Keppres) on abolition and amnesty is issued.
Regarding Prabowo's legal policy against Hasto and Tom Lembong, the Palace opened its voice.
Deputy Minister of State Secretary (Wamensesneg) Juri Ardianto said that Hasto and Tom Lembong met the criteria for amnesty and abolition.
"Regarding this issue, the main thing is that every citizen has the right to receive the same treatment and in 2025, in the series of commemorations of the 80th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia, the President gave a policy to several good people who were mentioned yesterday, two names or others, who received a kind of criteria for getting abolition, amnesty, or others that might be given to them," said the jury at the Presidential Palace complex, Jakarta, Friday, August 1, 2025, quoted by VOI.
He added that the policy of granting amnesty to Hasto and Tom Lembong was to maintain unity and integrity.
"We already know all that the principle of Mr. President, Mr. Prabowo, in holding this government is that the point is that if we want to progress, then everyone must work together. Together, unity is important. So all elements, all elements, all things related to unity will definitely be fought for by the President," continued the jury.
Launching VOI, Prabowo's legal policy towards Hasto and Tom Lembong is considered as a strategy to build national political reconciliation.
Political observer Pangwi Syarwi Chaniago believes that Hasto and former Trade Minister Tom Lembong are symbols of pro-nationalist, reformist, and democratic civilian forces. Both represent significant political forces in the political landscape of Indonesia.
"It could be a cool and classy strategy from Prabowo. Embrace all political forces, make opponents political partners. This is part of political bargaining and reconciliation efforts," Pangi told VOI.
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He added that Prabowo's legal policy in this case was in line with the political schools that prioritize national unity and unification. In addition, this decision is also a way to reduce the escalation of conflicts among political elites that had heated up during the 2024 presidential election.
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