Farouk Arnaz – Justice and Human Rights Deputy Minister Denny Indrayana clamped down last year on sentence reductions and parole for convicts involved in terrorism, narcotics and corruption, but there is some question about whether that policy is still in place.

Achmad Michdan, coordinator of the Muslim Defenders Team (TPM), which often represents Muslims involved in terrorism cases, said some of his clients serving time in prisons in Medan had been granted sentence reductions. "But I need time to provide the data," he quickly cautioned on Saturday.

Denny couldn't be reached for comment but he said last year that the policy was not new. He pointed to a government regulation from 2006 that sets the terms for remissions, including stricter conditions for prisoners serving sentences for corruption, terrorism, narcotics and organized crime.

There are two types of remissions, general and special. The general remission is given every Independence Day, while special remissions are granted every major religious holiday, such as Idul Fitri and Christmas.

There have been cases of terror convicts who were granted remissions returning to terrorist activities once they received early release or parole.

Abu Tholut received an eight-year prison sentence in 2001 for his role in the bombing at the Atrium Plaza shopping mall in Senen, Central Jakarta. He was granted a sentence reduction and only served four and a half years.

He was rearrested in December 2010 and received another eight-year jail sentence in 2011. He was found guilty of terrorism activities, specifically taking part in militant training in Aceh.