Sjahril Djohan granted release on parole

Convicted National Police case broker Sjahril Djohan walked out of prison on Thursday after serving six months at the Cipinang penitentiary.

“Yes, today [he was granted] conditional release. The letter was signed today,” Head of Cipinang penitentiary Wayan Sukerta said.

He said Sjahril was granted the conditional release because he had satisfied a number of requirements. Sjahril had served two-thirds of his sentence, was not being processed in other cases and had shown good behavior.

Sjahril, a former diplomat, was sentenced in November to 18 months in prison for facilitating bribery -- a sentence deemed disappointing by many who accused him of being a major case broker with strong links to prosecutors and high-ranking officials at the National Police Headquarters.

His role as a player among the big fish in the judicial mafia ring was unraveled by former chief detective Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji early last year. However, Susno was then dragged into Sjahril’s case, allegedly receiving cash from Sjahril in exchange for accelerating legal proceedings arranged by him.

“Sjahril has served six months in prison and paid Rp 50 million (US$5,800) in fines, that's why he was allowed to be released,” Wayan said.

Meanwhile, Spokesperson at the Directorate of Correctional -Institutions at the Law and Human Rights Ministry, Akbar Hadi Prabowo said that Sjahril was always behaved good during his term in jail, a contradiction to allegation that he once received special treatment in his detention center.

In December last year, the Judicial Mafia task force accused Sjahril of being detained not in a police cell but in the internal affairs division’s deputy chief’s room.

In the air-conditioned room, Sjahril allegedly enjoyed access to a refrigerator, telephones, a television, a spacious bed, a cassette player and a private bathroom.

Sjahril and the police have repeatedly denied there was any special treatment.