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Ex-Dems leader Anas Urbaningrum released after 8 years in prison
"I want to extend my apologies, first to those who thought that I would be rotting in this place. If anyone thought that I would be physically and socially a corpse, Alhamdulillah that did not happen,” the graft convict said upon his release.
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Former Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum attends a hearing at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Aug. 11, 2014. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
F
ormer Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum was released from prison on Tuesday after completing an eight-year sentence for his role in the Hambalang sports complex graft case.
Anas was seen stepping out of the Sukamiskin Prison in Bandung, West Java, at 1:30 p.m. and was greeted by hundreds of supporters wearing white shirts who had been gathered outside the building since the morning, local media reported.
At a small podium prepared by his supporters placed just outside the building, the former graft convict thanked his family and supporters for supporting him throughout his time in prison.
"Alhamdulillah [thank God], with the support of my family and friends, I can still be here to live in an upright manner. I am conscious, healthy and sane," he said, as quoted from a video published by tribunnews.com.
Anas then took what many saw as a swipe at his political rivals, who he claimed had devised “a scenario” by putting him in jail for a long time.
"I want to extend my apologies, first to those who thought that I would be rotting in this place. If anyone thought that I would be physically and socially a corpse, Alhamdulillah that did not happen,” he said.
"I don't have [any inclination toward] conflict and hostility. Mine is a struggle for justice. If that struggle for justice has caused hostile feelings, my apologies, because that is the consequence of upholding justice."
