February 15, 2026 | 06:09 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto reveals why he granted amnesty and abolition to convicted corruptors. The head of state says that while the law must not be used as a political tool, there should be no mistakes in the judicial process.
Prabowo previously granted amnesty to the Secretary General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Hasto Kristiyanto, and abolition to Thomas Trikasih Lembong, former Minister of Trade, in a corruption case involving sugar imports.
"I am determined to comply with the law. There is no compromise. We must enforce the law properly. But the 'miscarriage of justice' should not happen. The law should not be used as a tool to undermine political opponents," said Prabowo during his speech at the Indonesia Economic Outlook 2026, in Jakarta, on Friday, February 13, 2026.
Prabowo claims to have taken the decision to grant pardons since he senses doubts, while the court must make convictions based on solid evidence, "beyond reasonable doubt," he said during the event.
The Gerindra Party boss says he hopes to create legal certainty to guarantee stability for citizens. For him, the court must not issue a final verdict if doubtful.
"As a representative of the people, I am responsible. I want the rule of law in Indonesia. I want legal certainty," said Prabowo.
The former Minister of Defense says a country is successful if the people live under the reign of a clean and just government.
In late July 2025, Prabowo decided to pardon Tom Lembong and Hasto Kristiyanto. Tom Lembong was previously sentenced to 4.5 years in prison in a sugar imports corruption case. Meanwhile, Hasto Kristiyanto was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison in a bribery case involving the former Commissioner of the General Election Commission (KPU) for the 2017-2022 period, Wahyu Setiawan.
Read: Prabowo Jokes: I Fear Bureaucrats More Than Kuntilanak
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