Yulianus Paonganan, Entangled in a Case of Insulting the President, Was Granted Amnesty, Yusril Says the Crime Is Politically Related

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections (Menko Kumham Imipas) Yusril Ihza Mahendra answers journalists' questions at his office in Jakarta, Friday, December 20, 2024. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections (Menko Kumham Imipas) Yusril Ihza Mahendra stated that the case of convict Yulianus Paonganan was politically related, leading to his granting of amnesty by President Prabowo Subianto.

"It is true, it is a politically related crime, and as we know, such crimes are subject to amnesty and abolition. So, Mr. Ongen (Yulianus Paonganan) has been convicted, but the verdict has not been executed for a long time," Yusril said in Jakarta on Monday, as quoted by Antara.

He explained that after the President granted amnesty to the convict in the case of insulting the head of state, his sentence was automatically revoked.

"So there will be no execution, there will be no new charges; the matter is resolved," said Coordinating Minister Yusril.

According to him, amnesty for convicts who oppose the government has been granted before. Therefore, Yulianus Paonganan was proposed for amnesty by the Minister of Law.

Yulianus Paonganan was convicted for spreading pornographic content insulting the seventh president of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo. He is one of 1,178 amnesty recipients.

Previously, Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas announced that 1,178 people received amnesty from President Prabowo Subianto.

One of the amnesty recipients was Yulianus Paonganan, a convict in a case under the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law related to insulting the President.

"Yulianus Paonganan is also in an ITE case, so it's related to insulting the head of state," Supratman said during a press conference at the Ministry of Law Office in Jakarta on Friday, August 1.

In addition to Yulianus, another amnesty recipient is Hasto Kristiyanto, Secretary General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), who is a defendant in an alleged bribery case related to the replacement of legislative member Harun Masiku.

Furthermore, the President also granted amnesty to former Minister of Trade Tom Lembong, who was implicated in an alleged corruption case involving sugar imports at the Ministry of Trade.

The Presidential Decree, or Keppres, regarding amnesty and abolition was signed by the President on Friday, August 1. The Presidential Decree, said Supratman, came into effect immediately upon signing.