Through 12 PBHs, Riau Ministry Of Law And Human Rights Disburses A Budget Of IDR 84 Million For Legal Aid For Underprivileged Residents

Illustration of the trial conducted by underprivileged residents at the Central Jakarta District Court. (Antara)

RIAU - The Regional Office (Kanwil) of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham) Riau distributed a legal aid budget of IDR 84 million to serve the underprivileged in Riau.

Head of the Riau Ministry of Law and Human Rights Regional Office, Mhd Jahari Sitepu, said that the tens of millions were channeled through 12 Legal Aid Providers (PBH).

This was conveyed during the signing of the addendum contract for the Implementation of Legal Aid for the Second Quarter of the 2022 Fiscal Year in Pekanbaru, Monday, August 1.

"Aid is given more to optimize free legal aid by Legal Aid Providers to underprivileged communities," said Jahari.

According to him, with this addendum contract, there is an additional litigation budget of IDR 84,000,000 and non-litigation of IDR 52,350,000.

Through this budget assistance, he said, 14 PBHs in collaboration with the Riau Kemenkumham Regional Office are expected to be able to provide free legal aid to underprivileged groups.

"For this reason, carry out legal aid with full responsibility from budget absorption and in the implementation of legal aid. Seriously provide assistance to poor community groups who are dealing with the law for free," he said.

Jahari reminded that officers should resign if they are half-hearted in helping the community.

According to him, officers must implement a rule of law that recognizes, protects, and guarantees all citizens' human rights to the need for access to justice and equality before the law.

As a form of control and supervision of his staff, Jahari also conveyed to PBH to report directly if there were correctional officers who asked for fees outside the rules or were made difficult when assisting clients who were in prisons or state detention houses.

"If there are officers who make it difficult or ask for money when providing assistance, call me immediately. Let me take firm action against the officer. This also applies to the Immigration office," he also said.

However, Jahari also reminded PBH when providing legal assistance, not to bring the items ordered by their clients because they feared that drugs were inserted.