August 1, 2025 | 07:53 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian House of Representatives announced its approval of granting abolition to former Trade Minister in President Jokowi's cabinet, Thomas Trikasih Lembong, also known as Tom Lembong, and amnesty to the General Secretary of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Hasto Kristiyanto. The granting of amnesty and abolition is within the authority and was previously proposed by President Prabowo Subianto to the House.
Criminal Law Expert from the University of Indonesia, Chudry Sitompul, considers that the granting of amnesty and abolition is usually related to political motives. "This is to show that Pak Prabowo politically wants to say 'do not add to political unrest'," Chudry said when contacted on Thursday night, July 31, 2025.
Amnesty is when the president cancels the punishment of an individual or group of people who have committed a crime. Meanwhile, abolition refers to the termination of a legal or judicial process.
Chudry explained that Tom Lembong was granted abolition because his legal process is still ongoing. "Because Tom Lembong is still filing an appeal. So the process is not yet legally binding," he said.
Previously, Tom Lembong was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison in a sugar import corruption case at the trial court level. Tom Lembong filed an appeal on July 29, 2025. Meanwhile, in March, Hasto Kristiyanto was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison, which is half a year lighter than the prosecutor's demand, in a bribery case involving former KPU Commissioner Wahyu Setiawan.
Deputy House Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad said that President Prabowo submitted the request to abolish Tom Lembong through Presidential Letter Number R43/Pres 07.2025, dated July 30, 2025. "We have held consultations and as a result, we have given consideration and approval," Dasco said in a press conference at the Parliament Senayan Complex, Jakarta, on Thursday night, July 31, 2025.
The House also approved the proposal for the head of state to grant amnesty to 1,116 people. One of them is Hasto Kristiyanto, the General Secretary of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP). "The President wants a sense of brotherhood and the creation of conducive conditions. At the same time, to build the nation together with all political elements,' said Minister of Law, Supratman Andi Agtas, in the press conference.
Novali Panji Nugroho contributed to the writing of this article
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