Abu Bakar Baasyir Will Be Free, Government Has No Special Preparations

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD said the government had not prepared special treatment before the release of terror convict Abu Bakar Baasyir on Friday, January 8.

"There is no special treatment or preparation by the government for the release of ABB (Abu Bakar Baasyir). There is already a handling and monitoring mechanism," Mahfud said when contacted by reporters, Wednesday, January 6.

Mahfud also said that the release of Abu Bakr Baasyir was a right that must be accepted because he had completed his sentence in full.

"It is ABB's right legally to be purified because he has finished serving his sentence in full," he said.

Previously reported, the West Java Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights said that Abu Bakar Baasyir would be purely free on Friday, January 8, 2021, from the Gunung Sindur Penitentiary, Bogor.

Head of the West Java Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Imam Suyudi, said that Baasyir's release was confirmed according to procedure. According to him, Baasyir has served a 15-year sentence minus a 55-month remission.

"He has served the sentence well, and followed all the provisions and procedures, the implementation of security coaching at the maximum security level prison, Gunung Sindur Prison, and on Friday, January 8, we will release him," said Suyudi.

However, ahead of his release, Abu Bakar Baasyir's condition had deteriorated. He was even referred to RSCM for the health recovery process.

This was conveyed by the Head of the Special Class IIA Gunung Sindur Penitentiary, Mujiarto, as reported by Antara, Monday, January 4 yesterday.

"Some time ago I was referred to RSCM, 24 November to 10 Dec 2020, after that it improved, so we returned to the special prison for Mount Sindur," Murjiarto said as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, January 5.

Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, continued Mujiarto, occupies a special terrorist cell in Block D of Gunung Sindur Prison even though he is physically healthy. However, due to age considerations (80 years), the person concerned must occupy this special cell.

"Currently, Abu Bakar Bashir is in good health," he said.

The family, represented by the son of the founder of the Islamic boarding school, Al Mu'min, Abdul Rahim Baasyir, previously asked his father's sympathizers or supporters not to pick him up during his release. This is to anticipate the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic whose cases have not gone down.