Head of Public Relations Directorate General of Correctional Ministry of Justice and Human Rights (Ditjen PAS Kemenkumham), Adek Kusmanto said the government could not grant home arrest proposed by ustaz Abu Bakar Ba’asyir family. Based on regulations, home confinement is impossible for a convicted prisoner.
House arrest could only be given to a defendant who is still waiting for the verdict. “Ustaz Ba’asyir is no longer a defendant as he has been sentenced 15 years of jail,” he explained.
However, based on humanitarian grounds, Adek assessed ustaz Ba’asyir was eligible for clemency. He has all the requirements for clemency. “He is an elderly, his age is over 70 years old, and suffers chronic illness,” Adek said when contacted by Republika.co.id on Sunday (March 4).
Nevertheless, Adek has heard ustaz Ba’asyir family would not ask for clemency. They believed the 80 years old cleric was not guilty. “Without any petition, there will be no clemency,” he explained.
Therefore, the government could only provide medical services needed by ustaz Ba’asyir, among others by allowing him to receive treatment at Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital, Jakarta. “Anytime he needed medical services, we will try our best to cooperate with National Counter-Terrorism Agency and the hospital,” he said.
Earlier, ustaz Ba’asyir was taken to Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital, Jakarta for medical examination on Thursday (March 1). According to his son, ustaz Abdul Rochim Ba’asyir, it took five months for his father to get examined in the hospital.
South Jakarta District Court judge sentenced cleric Ba’asyir to 15 years in prison in 2011. The Assembly assessed ustaz Ba’asyir proved to create an atmosphere of terror with holding military training at Bukit Jalin Jantho, Aceh.
The Assembly also assessed Ba’asyir proved to plan military training with Dulmatin. They discussed the plan near al Mukmin Ngruki Boarding School in Solo, Central Java, in February 2009. The 80 years old man jailed in solitary confinement at Mount Sindur prison, Bogor to live the remaining period of the sentence.
