Misbakhun's excursion legal, says minister

Law and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar says there is nothing wrong with inmate Misbakhun being at a shopping mall, since as he is on parole.

"[Misbahkun] has been on parole since April, whereby he is allowed to leave the prison in the morning but must return in the evening. So, if during the day time he decides to go to a mall, there is nothing wrong with that," Patrialis said Thursday.

Patrialis also said he sympathized with Misbahkun when asked why he had apparently attempted to avoid by two journalists, from Metro TV and Kompas, who spotted him at Ratu Plaza on Wednesday.

"Maybe he was a bit reluctant to face journalists. Basically, he violated no laws in this instance," he said.

Misbakhun, a former legislator from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), was sentenced to two years in prison after he was found guilty of forging a letter of credit for Bank Century.