JAKARTA - Rizieq Shihab's lawyer, Aziz Yanuar admitted to being surprised by the statement of the Panel of Judges who had offered his client to ask for clemency or pardon to President Joko Widodo for a four-year prison sentence in the case of the results of a swab test at the UMMI Hospital.
According to him, the judge's offer was the first time he had heard during his time as a lawyer.
"It should be noted that this is interesting when there is a panel of judges in a case which is said to be a prosecuting and criminal case but there is an attachment asking for clemency from the president," Aziz told reporters, Thursday, June 24.
However, Aziz was reluctant to comment much on this matter. He said the issue of the offer of clemency requests to Jokowi would be responded to by legal experts.
"Let the legal experts comment whether this is common or not. But we are also surprised, but Habib and the defendants have decided to appeal," said Aziz.
Another lawyer for Rizieq, Achmad Michdar, said that the offer of clemency was very unreasonable. This is because the law only gives a grace period of seven days to respond to the judge's decision.
"It is impossible for clemency to the President in one week. Can you imagine in one week if there is no other decision they will be detained. How is that possible? Is it possible to apply for clemency to the president in a week?" said Michdar.
For that reason, Rizieq and his team of lawyers prefer to file an appeal. Thus, it is still possible for their hopes that Rizieq will be free to be fulfilled.
"The consequence is that he will still be detained (if he applies for clemency). But if he declares an appeal, the case will not automatically have legal force," said Michdar.
During the trial, the panel of judges offered three things to respond to the verdict. First, accept or reject by filing an appeal.
Second, Rizieq is asked to think first to determine his attitude towards the decision with a grace period of seven days. Finally, a request for pardon or clemency to President Jokowi.
However, Rizieq firmly refused and chose to appeal the four-year prison sentence.
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