Deputy Minister Eddy Hiariej Said, The Death Penalty Is A 'special Punishment'

Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights Prof. Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights Prof. Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej said the death penalty is a "special punishment" or a special punishment and not the main punishment.

"The Draft Bill on the Criminal Code still applies the death penalty, but in its implementation, the death penalty is a special punishment," said Deputy Minister Eddy Hiariej in a written statement received in Jakarta, Monday, March 28, as reported by Antara.

This was conveyed by the Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights when receiving an honorary visit from the German Ambassador (Ambassador) Ina Lepel.

He said, in the discourse of human rights, the application of the death penalty in the Draft Criminal Code does indeed reap pros and cons. Almost all countries in Europe, including Germany, reject the application of the death penalty.

Regarding the existence of the death penalty in Indonesia, especially in the Draft Criminal Code, the Deputy Minister, Prof. Edward Omar, explained to Ina Lepel that the application of the death penalty is a special punishment and can be changed.

"This means that if a convict has good behavior, the sentence can be reduced to life imprisonment or twenty years in prison," he said.

Prof. Eddy explained that while serving their sentence in correctional institutions (lapas) and state detention centers (rutan), prisoners were given guidance. The guidance provided is not only in the form of mental and spiritual (independence development), but also skills.

The attitude of convicts with good behavior can be used as a reference in granting a reduction in sentence or applying for parole, he also said.

German Ambassador Ina Lepel said that currently there are nine German citizens placed in prisons and remand centers in Indonesia. Two of them are waiting for further confirmation of the parole application process from the Directorate General of Corrections (Ditjenpas).

"I hope that the conditional application of the two German citizens can be realized soon," he said.