Senior Cabinet Minister Responds to Professor’s Claims Over President’s Apology to Corrupt Officials
JAKARTA — Former Minister of Political and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, has responded to a statement made by Professor Romli Atmasasmita regarding potential legal consequences for comments about President Prabowo Subianto‘s intention to secretly apologize to corrupt officials.
In a post on his Instagram account (@mohmahfudmd) on Wednesday (1/1/2024), Mahfud addressed Professor Atmasasmita’s remarks. "I must respond to Professor Romli Atmasasmita, who believes I could face charges under the defamation and ITE (Information and Electronic Transactions) Law. He claims I’m wrong for saying it’s unacceptable for the President to secretly apologize to corrupt officials," Mahfud wrote.
Professor Atmasasmita, according to Mahfud, assumed he hadn’t consulted legal experts or listened to his podcast, ‘Terus Terang Episode 34,’ aired on December 24, 2023.
Mahfud clarified, "Nevertheless, I reiterate that secretly apologizing to corrupt officials contradicts the law. It’s unacceptable."
Furthermore, Mahfud addressed differing opinions on the mechanism of fines in the prosecution law between him, Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, and Security Yusril Ihza Mahendra, and Minister of Law and Human Rights Supratman Andi Agtas. "That’s all part of democratic discourse. I maintain that it’s unacceptable to secretly forgive corruption. I understand that the President can grant amnesty, but it must not be done secretly," he asserted.
Mahfud emphasized that the procedure for granting amnesty involves open discussion with the House of Representatives, with previous amnesty programs being open to debate and scrutiny. Therefore, the issue at hand is not amnesty but the secret forgiveness and return of embezzled funds.
