Mahfud MD: Edhy Prabowo's Conditional Free Is In Accordance With The Rules

Edhy Prabowo/DOK KKP

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said the conditional free status of former Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo was in accordance with applicable regulations.

"Pak Edhy Prabowo received a 7-month remission from his sentence if I'm not mistaken for 4 years. He received a 7-month remission, yes, he left last August because the rules are like that," Mahfud said in the Gondangdia area, Jakarta, as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, November 30.

Mahfud revealed that there was a debate about granting remissions to suspects in corruption cases. However, the legislation still provides the remission.

"There was a debate. Was the corrupt person given remission or not? However, in the end, the law stated, yes, it would still be granted remission if it behaved well and met the requirements," said the candidate for vice president number 3.

According to Mahfud, Edhy Prabowo's free status is only natural because Edhy has served a sentence of about 3 years.

"If what Mr. Edhy Prabowo asked, that's the answer. So, it can come out indeed, it's been more than 3 years in prison," he said.

Former Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo is a convict in a bribery case for lobster seed licensing. The Supreme Court (MA) in its decision determined that Edhy was imprisoned for 5 years and a fine of Rp. 400 million or replaced with 6 months in prison, and paid compensation of Rp. 9.68 billion and US$ 77,000 or replaced with 3 years in prison.

Edhy then languished in the Class I Penitentiary in Tangerang, Banten, since November 25, 2020.

Edhy Prabowo's status has become a public spotlight after a video recording of him attending the graduation of the Military Academy and Police Academy in Magelang, Central Java, Tuesday (28/11).

In a video recording that went viral on social media, Edhy was seen holding Ferdy Sambo's son at the event location. Tribrata Putra, Ferdy Sambo's second son and Putri Candrawathi, are one of the cadets of the Police Academy who graduated / was appointed as the first officer of the National Police by the National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo during the graduation ceremony.

Meanwhile, the Coordinator of Public Relations and Protocol of the Directorate General of PAS at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Deddy Eduar Eka Saputra, said that Edhy was conditional free as stated in the Decree on Conditional Release Number: PAS-1436.PK.05.09 dated August 17, 2023.

"During his conditional release, the person concerned (Edhy Prabowo, ed.) is obliged to report to the Ciangir Class II Correctional Center," said Deddy in an official broadcast by the Directorate General of PAS of the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights.

Edhy was released from condition for good behavior while serving his sentence. From the results of the assessment of the correctional institution and the Directorate General of PAS, Edhy received a total remission for 7 months and 15 days.