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Ministry reduces sentences for over 80,000 prisoners
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Inmates and staff members join in Idul Fitri prayers at the Sukamiskin prison in West Java in this file photo. (The Jakarta Post/Arya Dipa)
T
he Law and Human Rights Ministry has reduced prison sentences for 80,430 Muslim prisoners across Indonesia in commemoration of Idul Fitri this year.
A total of 446 of the inmates received immediate release while the remainder will continue their reduced prison sentences.
According to a 2018 ministerial decree, convicts may receive reduced sentences, also known as "special remission", during the biggest religious holiday of their respective religions. The amount that is reduced varies, ranging from 15 days to two months. Convicts will immediately be released if their remission is more than their remaining sentence.
Indonesia currently has 250,000 inmates in detention centers, whereas the maximum capacity is 124,000 according to Sri Puguh Budi Utami, the ministry's correctional affairs director general.
“These remissions will reduce overcrowding in the prisons and reduce state spending as prisoners are released earlier,” she said as reported by tribunnews.com on Wednesday.
The reduced sentences are reportedly able to save as much as Rp 32 billion (US$ 2.2 million) in budget for meals alone.
Puguh added that early release might encourage convicts to become better members of society. (nor/swd)
