Jakarta – The Law and Human Rights Ministry's director general of penitentiaries, Handoyo Sudrajat, said that Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna was aware of the policy to give sentence cuts to 49 graft convicts. "He is aware of the process," Handoyo said, as quoted by tribunnews.com.

On Christmas Day, as part of an annual tradition, the ministry granted sentence cuts to more than 9,000 convicts, including 49 jailed for corruption.

Anti-graft watchdog groups have blasted the decision, saying that Yasonna had broken his own promise to not give sentence reductions to graft convicts.

Earlier this week, Yasonna said that he had turned down the sentence-reduction proposals filed by 150 graft convicts. Yasonna claimed that he had only approved sentence cuts for 9,000 convicts in general crimes.

Earlier in September, the ministry, which controls prisons across the country, had been slammed for its perceived leniency toward graft convicts after it insisted on proceeding with the parole request of graft convict Anggodo Widjoyo, despite strong opposition from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/12/27/minister-knew-sentence-cut-convicts.html