Pampered inmate Artalyta walks free

Graft convict and businesswoman Artalyta “Ayin” Suryani, who made headlines when authorities found she had bribed her way into a luxury cell, was released on parole on Friday morning.

Artalyta's release from Tangerang Women’s Penitentiary at 9 a.m. ended days of controversy over the decision made by the Law and Human Rights Ministry to grant the release based on her “good behavior”.

Artalyta was originally sentenced to five years in prison in 2008 for bribing state prosecutor Urip Tri Gunawan who had been leading a team investigating the Bank Indonesia liquidity support case implicating business tycoon Sjamsul Nursalim. Sjamsul was a colleague of Artalyta's.

TVOne reported that Artalyta was accompanied by her attorney OC Kaligis and her relatives.