Open Dialogue With Saiful Mahdi's Wife, Kemenkopolhukam Alludes To Various Legal Steps That Can Be Taken

Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Sugeng Purnomo in dialogue with Dian Rubianty who is the wife of an Unsyiah Lecturer in Banda Aceh, Saiful Mahdi (YouTube screenshot)

JAKARTA - Deputy for Coordination of Law and Human Rights at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Kemenko Polhukam) Sugeng Purnomo had a dialogue with Dian Rubianty who is the wife of Lecturer Unsyiah Banda Aceh, Saiful Mahdi on Friday, September 3.

In the dialogue, Sugeng said that there are several alternative legal steps that can be taken by Saiful Mahdi, namely legal remedies for judicial review and the application of clemency and amnesty to President Jokowi. Saiful Mahdi is a lecturer who was sentenced to three months in prison for violating the ITE Law.

"But it all goes back to Mr. Saiful because he has undergone various legal remedies so far," he said in a written statement quoted on Saturday, September 4.

He also said that Saiful Mahdi was one of the resource persons who had been asked to provide input by the ITE Law Study Team in which Sugeng served as chairman. According to him, input was given by Saiful Mahdi during the preparation of the draft revision of the law and the preparation of the Joint Decree (SKB) regarding the guidelines for its implementation.

Furthermore, Sugeng also appreciated the attitude of Saiful Mahdi who was willing to comply with the summons of the Prosecutor's Office and carry out the verdict that had been knocked down.

"Without judging what the verdict is like, I have the highest respect for the mother's husband who is willing to fulfill the summons and carry out his execution. Because there are some people who avoid the prosecutor's call for execution," said Sugeng.

Through the dialogue, Dian has told the journey of her husband's case from the beginning to the decision of the cassation. She also said that she would seek amnesty or abolition of sentences to the president because her husband was a victim of injustice.

Dian emphasized that her husband was only criticizing because the state was built on the principles of accountability, transparency and anti-corruption. "My husband maintains his integrity as a lecturer. He wants to fix a flawed system but so far it is considered slanderous and this has not been heard at various levels of the court," said Dian.

Based on this plan, the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs will continue to monitor the development of this case and will convey the results of the dialogue to the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD.

As previously reported, Saiful Mahdi immediately served a prison term after the appeal was rejected by the Supreme Court (MA) or upheld the decision of the Banda Aceh District Court (PN), which was three months in prison.

"The Supreme Court's decision confirms the decision of the Banda Aceh District Court, and nothing has changed. The verdict is three months in prison plus Rp. 10 million, a subsidiary of 1 month in prison," said Attorney Dr Saiful Mahdi from LBH Banda Aceh Syahrul, in Banda Aceh, as reported by Antara, Thursday, September 2nd.

The USK MIPA Faculty lecturer was found guilty of committing a criminal act intentionally and without the right to transfer defamation charges regarding the results of the CPNS test for the campus Faculty of Engineering lecturer.