Ahok to earn Christmas remission this year

AHOK - JAKARTA. The lawyer of former Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, I Wayan Sudiarta, has said his client will receive a remission on Dec. 25.

Ahok was sentenced to two years in prison for blasphemy in May this year.

Wayan said Ahok had been behind bars for six months, during which time, he had maintained good behavior and fulfilled his obligations according to the prevailing regulations.

“This means Ahok has met all the administrative requirements to receive a remission,” he said as quoted by tempo.co on Sunday.

Wayan added that inmate remissions were regulated by, among others, Law No. 12/1995 on correctional sentences.

Ahok’s upcoming Christmas remission will be his first remission since beginning his imprisonment. Ahok did not receive a remission during the last round of remissions granted to inmates on Independence Day on Aug. 17. 

Ahok was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for blasphemy following a speech he made in Thousand Islands regency. He has been imprisoned at the Police's Mobile Brigade Command Headquarters (Mako Brimob) in Depok, West Java since May 9.