Mariel Grazella, Jakarta – Anticorruption activists did the only thing they could on Friday in response to the release of Artalyta "Ayin" Suryani from prison: Raising their voices by protesting.
Graft convict Ayin was released on parole from Tangerang Women's Penitentiary on Friday after serving two-thirds of her five-year prison sentence.
She made headlines for bribing prison authorities at Pondok Bambu Penitentiary in East Jakarta where she was initially imprisoned to acquire a lavishly appointed cell.
Despite the consequent uproar, Artalyta was granted parole for good behavior, which included giving fellow inmates English language lessons.
The 21-month reduction in her sentence through parole follows on the heels of a six-month reduction to her sentence granted by the Supreme Court and a remission of three months and 20 days issued by the Law and Human Rights Ministry.
"The release is highly disappointing because it shows the government is not as committed to eradicating corruption as it claims," Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) activist Emerson Yuntho said.
Artalyta was imprisoned for bribing prosecutor Urip Tri Gunawan US$660,000 in exchange for the summons letter and inside information on the investigation into tycoon Sjamsul Nursalim. Sjamsul was implicated in the embezzlement of Bank Indonesia liquidity support funds (BLBI).
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) legislator Eva K. Sundari said the ministry cast a blind eye on Artalyta's misdemeanors, including bribing wardens to get her luxurious cell.
She added that Law and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar had the authority to intervene and not allow any reductions of Artalyta's sentence.
Patrialis said during a meeting with legislators Thursday that he could not forbid the correctional facilities directorate general from granting Artalyta's parole because the directorate was well versed with the technicalities of granting parole.
He said Artalyta's good behavior was one of the considerations in assessing whether she could be released on parole. Good behavior, he said, meant abiding by regulations during imprisonment.
"[Patrialis] should assess whether the decision is an insult to the people's sense of justice," she told The Jakarta Post.
Eva and Emerson both hinted at the possibility that Artalyta's early release was engineered.
"These types of privileges [such as securing an early release] are for those with money. Those who have the financial means can purchase their freedom," Eva said, adding that the situation highlighted the ministry's vulnerability to practices of graft.
The ministry previously sent mixed signals over whether it would reduce Artalyta's sentence. Patrialis previously said the ministry had never issued any remissions for Artalyta.
However, a document circulated later showed that the ministry had cut her sentence by three months and 20 days.
On Wednesday, correctional facilities director general Untung Sugiono said that "no decision has been made" on Artalyta's parole. The following day, however, Untung said he had signed the parole letter. Eva said the mechanisms to reduce sentences, such as remissions, had to be improvised as the current system lacked definite guidelines.
Emerson added that Artalyta's release was counterproductive to the corruption eradication efforts of certain government institutions, including the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).