Myesha Fatina Rachman, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's decision to grant abolition to Tom Lembong and amnesty to Hasto Kristiyanto on Thursday, July 31, 2025, has sparked criticism from various parties, ranging from legal experts to the Executive Board of the All-Indonesia Students' Executive Body (BEM SI).
Abolition and amnesty for corruption cases seen as wrong
Professor of Law at Jenderal Soedirman University, Hibnu Nugroho, believes that the corruption cases involving PDIP Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto and Tom Lembong are purely legal matters, not political ones, and therefore should not be resolved through the mechanisms of abolition or amnesty.
"These are legal cases. Is this a political case? If yes, then it's an extraordinary decision by the president. There should be other forms of resolution in the future if indeed it is political," said Hibnu to Tempo on Friday, August 1, 2025.
He emphasized that amnesty and abolition should ideally be provided in a political context, such as those previously granted to convicts of the ITE Law or non-armed rebellion perpetrators in Papua. In the context of corruption, he believes that liberation should still go through the formal legal process.
Nevertheless, Hibnu acknowledges that the president has a constitutional prerogative to grant pardons. He also mentioned the potential political motives behind the decision. "So, this also becomes a favor for Hasto and Tom Lembong, right? So, they owe the state. Indirectly," he said.
Prabowo's political signal for stability
Similar criticism was expressed by Chudry Sitompul, a criminal law expert from the University of Indonesia. He referred to President Prabowo's decision as a political move to reduce tension after the 2024 General Elections.
"This is about showing that Mr. Prabowo, politically, wants to say 'don't escalate the political turmoil'," said Chudry when contacted on Thursday night, July 31, 2025.
He also explained that granting abolition to Tom is possible because his sentence has not yet become legally binding, while Hasto has undergone legal processes until a final verdict. However, according to Chudry, the motive for pardon still leans more towards political reconciliation rather than juridical reasons.
BEM SI: Democracy muzzled, opposition tamed
Criticism also came from the All-Indonesia Students' Executive Board (BEM SI). The Central Coordinator of BEM SI, Muzammil Ihsan, said that the President's decision indicates a major reconciliation within the current political framework. "Where they embrace all parties and operate within the framework of building political stability," he said to Tempo on Friday, August 1, 2025.
According to BEM SI, the decision has the potential to lead to political oligarchy and narrow the public's control over the government. They voiced out that the pardon policy should remain grounded on the principle of justice, not power consolidation.
"Power that is not critically overseen has the potential to create a new oligarchy that endangers the future of democracy in Indonesia."Explanation from the Minister of Law
Meanwhile, the government stated that this policy was taken for the sake of national unity, especially nearing the 80th anniversary of Indonesia's Independence Day. Minister of Law and Human Rights Supratman Andi Agtas referred to the decision as part of efforts to create national political conducive conditions.
"The President wants a sense of brotherhood and the creation of conducive conditions. At the same time, to build the nation together with all political elements," said Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas at a press conference in the complex of the Parliament Building in Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday night, July 31, 2025.
A similar statement was delivered by the Deputy Minister of State Secretariat, Juri Ardiantoro, who referred to this step as part of the political policy to strengthen all elements of the nation.
– M. Rizki Yusrial, Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, and Dede Leni Mardianti also contributed to the writing of this article.